Do Not Consume Kratom - Throw It Away, Health Officials Say

BEAVERTON, OR — Fifteen samples of powder- and capsule-form kratom from two Torched Illusions shops in Washington County recently tested positive for Salmonella, according to the Oregon Health Authority. This follows a national outbreak of Salmonella-positive kratom samples that have sickened 48 people in 30 states.

Two people in Oregon became ill after ingesting Salmonella-tainted kratom, OHA officials said in a statement March 8. One person in Washington County Jan. 15 and another in Malheur County Nov. 18, 2017.

The Torched Illusion shops from which the kratom samples were taken are located in Beaverton and Tigard. OHA officials do not have the authority to stop the sale of kratom at local shops, despite the risk of illness, though OHA health officer and state epidemiologist Katrina Hedberg did encourage them to do so.

"It is legal to sell kratom in Oregon and the United States," Hedberg explained in an email to Patch on Thursday. "That said, we did ask an owner of (Torched Illusions) — in person, and in a formal letter handed to him during our visit and mailed to him via certified mail — to pull the product from the shelf.

"We also are requiring Torched Illusions to send OHA any and all information they have concerning the purchase and sales of kratom, including invoices and customer records since Nov. 1, 2017," she continued. "If they fail to comply by March 14, OHA may issue civil penalties against the business of up to $500 per day."

While OHA epidemiologists say the tainted kratom cases from Washington and Malheur counties are linked to the national Salmonella outbreak, officials noted the 15 positive samples taken in Washington County did not match the nationally-found Salmonella strain.

"What this tells us is that multiple strains of Salmonella — not just the strain implicated in the national outbreak — are popping up in kratom products," Hedberg said in a statement. "We don't yet know the ultimate source of all the contaminated kratom. Because of this, we recommend people not consume kratom in any form and throw it away."

Marketed in the U.S. as an herbal supplement, kratom — also called thang, kakuam, thom, ketom, and biak — is a plant native to southeast Asia, OHA officials explained. Brewed in tea, chewed, smoked, or taken in pill form, OHA officials said kratom is used "for its stimulant effects and as an opioid substitute."

OHA officials encourage anyone who experiences illness after ingesting kratom to contact a healthcare provider.

"A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report from 2016 suggests that kratom use and the number of calls to poison centers related to kratom exposure have increased in recent years," Hedberg said. "In Oregon, we also are seeing data that show people visiting hospital emergency departments are mentioning having recently used kratom, although not all are reporting that kratom use was the cause of the emergency department visits."

The individual who was sickened in Malheur County required hospitalization; the person in Washington County did not, officials said.

From the OHA:

Each year, 400 to 500 cases of salmonellosis are reported in Oregon. Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps one to three days after exposure. Salmonellosis is usually diagnosed by laboratory testing of a stool sample, according to CDC. The illness usually lasts four to seven days.
Although most people recover without treatment, severe infections can occur. Infants, elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness. When severe infection occurs, Salmonella may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites and can cause death.

"The U.S. Food & Drug Administration recently issued a warning to consumers not to use kratom out of concern that kratom, which affects the same opioid brain receptors as morphine, appears to have properties that expose users to the risks of addiction, abuse and dependence," Hedberg said.

Visit the CDC website for more information regarding the national Salmonella outbreak linked to kratom. And click here for more general information about Salmonella.

See Also From Patch:

Salmonella Outbreak Linked To 'Natural' Opioid Kratom: CDC

San Diego Salmonella Case Likely Linked To Kratom

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