Mass Spectrometry Analysis Finds Widespread Mislabeling in Commercial Kratom Products

Why it matters

Kratom users rely on product labels to gauge potency and safety — but this UPLC-MS/MS analysis of commercially available kratom tablets, films, and liquid shots found frequent mismatches between labeled and actual alkaloid content, including unlisted potent opioid-receptor agonists found in products that gave no indication of their presence.

The big picture

Without mandatory federal testing or labeling standards, kratom products can diverge sharply from what a label claims. This study from the University of Florida and University of South Carolina is the latest in a series documenting market inconsistency. As regulators consider threshold-based scheduling for 7-OH, a central unanswered question is how those thresholds can be enforced in commerce without any required manufacturer testing.

Key findings

• Commercially available kratom tablets, films, and liquid shots showed substantial variability in alkaloid composition
• Most products contained unreported alkaloids or lacked alkaloids listed on the label
• 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-HMG) and 3-dehydromitragynine (3DMTG) — both pharmacologically active — were detected in products that did not disclose them
• Researchers found evidence of inconsistent manufacturing practices and possible adulteration across product forms
• Findings coincide with a 1,200% increase in kratom-related poison control calls reported by CDC over the past decade

What they say

"These findings indicate inconsistent manufacturing practices, labeling inaccuracies, and potential adulteration, along with the risk of exposure to highly potent mu-opioid receptor agonists. Collectively, this highlights the need for improved regulatory oversight and strengthened post-marketing surveillance." — Study authors, University of Florida and University of South Carolina Colleges of Pharmacy, Drug Testing and Analysis (2026)

Bottom line

Commercially sold kratom products frequently contain unlisted opioid-active alkaloids at doses that diverge from labels — a consumer safety problem that mandatory testing requirements could directly address.