UF Study Finds 85% of Tested Kratom Products Don't Match Their Labels

Why it matters

Consumers buying kratom-labeled powders, tablets, gummies and liquid shots often have no reliable way to know what alkaloids or concentrations they're actually ingesting, which complicates both personal safety decisions and clinical care when adverse events occur.

The big picture

The kratom marketplace has expanded rapidly to include semisynthetic products, particularly those containing concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), that are chemically distinct from traditional leaf kratom but frequently sold under generic "kratom" branding. The FDA has already issued warnings about illegal marketing of 7-OH products and recommended scheduling it under the Controlled Substances Act.

Key findings

• UF College of Pharmacy researchers analyzed 44 commercially available kratom and kratom-derived products purchased online and in stores across multiple states
• In 85% of products tested, measured alkaloid concentrations did not match what was listed on the label
• Some products listed a single alkaloid but contained multiple; others contained undisclosed compounds entirely
• The study, published in Drug Testing and Analysis, specifically flags semisynthetic 7-OH products as often indistinguishable from natural kratom based on labeling alone
• Researchers call for stronger manufacturing standards and mandatory comprehensive testing

What they say

"Right now, consumers are part of a large experiment in which they are taking products that they believe are properly labeled as to the composition of ingredients, yet they are being deceived intentionally or unintentionally by the manufacturers, putting the public at risk," said Christopher McCurdy, Ph.D., associate dean for faculty development at the UF College of Pharmacy.

Bottom line

**Nearly nine in ten kratom products tested didn't contain what their labels claimed, underscoring that label trust alone is not a safe basis for consumer decisions.**