Officials find salmonella in herbal supplement

Staff Writer mwingerter@oklahoman. com

Four people in Oklahoma have gotten salmonella after taking kratom, an herbal supplement some people take as an opioid substitute.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that it was issuing a recall for kratom products from two manufacturers. It previously announced recalls for products from six other companies in March. So far, 91 people in 36 states have gotten sick after using kratom, and 31 had to be hospitalized, according to the Oklahoma State Health Department.

The state Health Department and the Tulsa Health Department are investigating the local cases. They found salmonella in Club 13 brand Maeng Da Red kratom purchased at an Oklahoma store.

Salmonella causes diarrhea, a fever and abdominal cramps, which can last for up to a week. Most people recover without treatment, but some people end up in the hospital due to dehydration or if the infection spreads beyond their intestines.

Kratom comes from a plant grown in Southeast Asia. It can be used as a stimulant, or as a substitute for opioids. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency had proposed making kratom a Schedule I drug, placing it in the same category as heroin, but later backed off. Some kratom users say it helped them quit opioids, but the FDA has raised concerns about potentially dangerous misuse of the supplement.

The state Health Department urged the public to avoid kratom for the time being. If you took the supplement and developed symptoms of salmonella 12 to 72 hours later, call your health care provider.

For more information, go to fda.gov and search for “kratom recall.”