Utah Officials Link Mislabeled 'Cat's Claw' Tablets to Death, Warn of Hidden Kratom Alkaloids

Why it matters

A product sold as an ordinary herbal supplement was found to contain Schedule I kratom alkaloids, illustrating how enforcement gaps allow dangerous substances to reach consumers under completely different product labels.

The big picture

Utah passed a 2026 law banning kratom products other than pure-leaf forms, placing synthetic alkaloids mitragynine pseudoindoxyl and MGM-15 on its Schedule I controlled substances list. The Buzzers Cat's Claw incident shows that enforcement of product-content laws is only as strong as the inspection capacity behind them — and that bad actors can exploit label-shopping to circumvent state bans.

Key findings

• Buzzers-brand Cat's Claw tablets sold in Utah County were found to contain mitragynine pseudoindoxyl and MGM-15, both Schedule I drugs in Utah
• At least one death and several severe health incidents have been linked to the product; investigations are ongoing
• The products were found in multiple flavors and identified in overdose cases in the weeks prior to the warning
• UDAF and Utah Poison Control recommend immediate disposal of any Buzzers Cat's Claw tablets and urge retailers to remove them
• Naloxone administration is recommended in suspected overdoses involving the products; withdrawal can be managed by addiction medicine providers
• Cat's claw is a legitimate herbal supplement not expected to cause adverse effects; it shares no active compounds with kratom

What they say

The Utah Department of Agriculture & Food and the Utah Poison Control Center warn: "UDAF and UPCC warn all members of the public not to buy or consume Buzzers Cat's Claw tablets and to safely destroy any existing product. Retailers should immediately remove products and contact UDAF's Specialized Products Division."

Bottom line

An herbal supplement sold as cat's claw was secretly loaded with Schedule I kratom alkaloids and linked to at least one death — a case study in how mislabeling defeats even states that have enacted kratom bans.