Laboratory Analysis of Kratom Products for Heavy Metals
FDA conducted laboratory testing of 30 different kratom products from a variety of sources to determine if they contain heavy metals. The analysis found significant levels of lead and nickel at concentrations that exceed safe exposure for oral daily drug intake.
Based on reported kratom usage patterns, heavy kratom users may be exposed to levels of lead and nickel many times greater than the safe daily exposure, as referenced in Appendix 2 of the Q3D Elemental Impurities Guidance for Industry.
Based on these test results, the typical long-term kratom user could potentially develop heavy metal poisoning, which could include nervous system or kidney damage, anemia, high blood pressure, and/or increased risk of certain cancers.
The following table highlights FDA’s laboratory data:
| Product | Source | Nickel* (ng/g) | Lead* (ng/g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Tea | soapkorner.com | Sub 1: 1070 Sub 2: 1110 |
Sub 1: 477 Sub 2 :478 |
| Raw Organics Red Maeng Da | 4aceswholesale.com | 3800 | 615 |
| Raw Organics White Maeng Da | 4aceswholesale.com | 8670 | 398 |
| Red Maeng Da | phytoextractum.com | 1780 | 904 |
| White Maeng Da | phytoextractum.com | 2030 | 402 |
| Red Maeng Da | krakenkratom.com | 2210 | 382 |
| White Maeng Da | krakenkratom.com | 1830 | **485 |
| Red Borneo | krakenkratom.com | 1570 | 574 |
| Red Maeng Da | buykratombulkusa.com | 3830 | 305 |
| White Maeng Da | buykratombulkusa.com | 2570 | 332 |
| Red Borneo | buykratombulkusa.com | 3166 | 333 |
| TomTea Private Reserve Maeng Da | Mood & Mind LLC | 9020 | 847 |
| Maeng Da Red/Green Blend | Mood & Mind LLC | 3020 | 530 |
| 5-strain sample pack (Containing Red Borneo, Red Maeng Da, Green Maeng Da, White Borneo, and White Maeng Da) |
Gaia Ethnobotanicals | Sub 1: 4700 Sub 2: 5100 Sub 3: 4400 Sub 4: 4700 Sub 5: 2890 |
Sub 1: 584 Sub 2: 460 Sub 3: 790 Sub 4: 550 Sub 5: 2700 |
| Krave Botanicals – Maeng Da | Ashlynn Marketing Group Inc. | 2260 | 320 |
| Krave Botanicals – Gold | Ashlynn Marketing Group Inc. | 10000 | 510 |
| Red Hot Hippo Maeng Da Red | Happy Hippo LLC | 1990 | 770 |
| RockStar Hippo Maeng Da White | Happy Hippo LLC | 2680 | 1400 |
| Sunshine Hippo Maeng Da Gold | Happy Hippo LLC | 1360 | 406 |
| White Maeng Da | Beaufort Kratom LLC | 2390 | 490 |
| Red Maeng Da | Beaufort Kratom LLC | 4400 | 1010 |
| White Maeng Da Liquid | Front Range Kratom | 690 | Not detected above 200 ng/g |
| Red Maeng Da Liquid | Front Range Kratom | 576 | Not detected above 200 ng/g |
| Red Bali | Front Range Kratom | 10700 | 352 |
| Maeng Da | Kratom Spot | 20100 | 438 |
| Red Vein Sumatra | Kratom Spot | Sub 1: 22600 Sub 2: 29000 |
Sub 1: 687 Sub 2: 777 |
| White Vein Kratom | Sunstone Organics LLC | 3680 | 307 |
| Red Vein Kratom | Sunstone Organics LLC | 3220 | 424 |
| Green Vein Kratom | Sunstone Organics LLC | 5720 | 252 |
| Maeng Da Kratom | Sunstone Organics LLC | 1060 | 1200 |
* Calculated as average amount from 3 tests of same product unless otherwise noted
**n=2, semi-quantitative