Response to False Allegations from the Global Kratom Coalition (GKC) on the Agreement to Stop Improper Labeling of 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) Products as “Kratom Products”
Washington, D.C., October 11, 2024: The American Kratom Association (AKA) is compelled to address the misleading and inaccurate claims made by the Global Kratom Coalition (GKC) in its October 8 media release regarding the AKA’s position on 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) isolates. Contrary to the GKC’s egregiously false assertion, the AKA has never supported the promotion or sale of 7-OH isolates. In fact, the AKA has consistently and unequivocally opposed their inclusion in any kratom product, as such isolates do not occur naturally in the kratom plant and pose significant concerns regarding safety and consumer trust.
The agreement the AKA reached with the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART) is a step forward in safeguarding consumers by preventing artificial and intentionally elevated 7OH levels and establishing clear limitations on 7-OH content in products marketed and sold as kratom products. This agreement is founded on rigorous scientific understanding of kratom’s natural alkaloid profile and the potential safety issues associated with artificially elevated levels of 7-OH. It reaffirms our stance that no kratom product should exceed naturally occurring levels of 7-OH, and that any product violating these standards must be properly labeled as a non-kratom product. This standard prevents misleading consumers and ensures product transparency and safety.
