Labeling for Kratom packaging… Why is it so important?
The American Kratom Association (AKA) has announced a new initiative called the “Truth in Labeling” Program. The AKA is a pro-kratom consumer rights organization that has long fought to keep kratom on the legal side of the law.
The program is asking the consumers of this industry to report vendors marketing “impermissible health claims”. The reports can be made by using an online form on the AKA website. If the AKA agrees and deems these vendors are not following the Food and Drug Cosmetic Act FDA’s labeling standards of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic</a> act they will forward the information to the US Food and Drug Administration.</p>
Mac Haddow is the AKA’s Senior Fellow on Public Policy. In a video released on AmericanKratom.org he stated that the program’s purpose is to “…protect kratom consumers by eliminating kratom vendors that have put profits over safety in the kratom supply chain.” To put it in layman’s terms, The AKA is targeting the vendors making deceitful health claims with no scientific grounding. These vendors are prioritizing their pocketbooks over the consumer and inevitably harming the industry at the same time.
Haddow drew attention to the type of marketing language he found on several kratom vendor sites. He found one vendor site that claimed kratom could be used for “skin conditions, arthritis, and opioid dependency.”
“Unless these companies have received the approval of specific new drug applications to enable them to make these claims, they appear to be violating labeling claim standards under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act,” Haddow said.
The impermissible health claims by these vendors have developed deeper issues more than just manipulating the consumer. They allow the FDA to jockey into a greater stance and draw a bigger target on Kratom.
The AKA is pushing the industry in the direction of self-regulation. While the AKA is not a regulatory body of the US government, Haddow sees a need for self-policing. “The truth is, the FDA does not have the investigators or the funding to conduct inspections and investigations into every bad actor in the kratom space.”
Comparing the unregulated kratom market to the United States CBD market, Haddow said, “The CBD market is flooded with poorly formulated, misbranded, and adulterated CBD products that have allowed unscrupulous marketers to force legitimate CBD manufacturers out of the business. That has put CBD consumers at significant safety risks, all because of the quest for the cheap products.”
Turning to the consumers of the industry, The AKA is looking for your help to self-police the industry. Show our city, state, and federal leaders that we are ready to help in the battle against dangerous kratom products that have been adulterated. Haddow stated, “Let’s be the good consumers and look for quality products, not the cheap knock-offs that are killing the legitimate kratom manufacturers and forcing them out of the marketplace.”
To learn more about the American Kratom Association’s Truth in Labeling for the kratom program or to report a kratom vendor that is making unverified health claims, visit this page on the AKA’s website.
In Conclusion,
The patrons of the industry and members of the ILK Forum need to hold vendors to a higher standard. Vendors in the business of selling Mitragyna Speciosa need to understand their responsibility to the consumer and the longevity of the industry. Bending the rules and breaking the laws is not how to do proper business. We have heard many companies talk about self-regulation in the industry. The ILK Forum stands by the AKA on this.
We would love to hear what you think about this program. Please leave your public comment below.
The Labeling for Kratom packaging is extremely important. This will hold companies to their promise as well as an honest explanation of whats inside the package.
