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Utah warns of deaths linked to tainted kratom supplements

Utah warns of deaths linked to tainted kratom supplements

Rule Changes Salt Lake City, UT local

Four deaths in Utah and one in San Francisco are tied to illegal opioid-like compounds in products mislabeled as 'cat's claw'.

October 21st, 2026: San Francisco reports first MGM-15 overdose death

Overview

Updated Nov 1

Four people in Utah have died after using herbal supplements that contained illegal opioid-like compounds, Utah health officials said Oct. 5. The products included kratom items and supplements labeled “cat’s claw,” sold at smoke shops and gas stations as kratom-free alternatives.

San Francisco health officials reported the city’s first death from MGM-15, a lab-made kratom compound, in a 37-year-old man who died in late September. The drug was found in a product sold as “cat’s claw” under a different brand from the Utah products. Utah is still investigating the manufacturers, and the Justice Department said Oct. 9 it would move to restrict concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine and related compounds.

Why it matters

If these tainted supplements stay on shelves, more people will die from a product they believe is a legal herbal remedy.

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Key Indicators

56
U.S. overdose cases with MGPI found (48 fatal)
Drug Enforcement Administration surveillance found MGPI in at least 56 U.S. overdose cases from February 2025 through May 2026, 48 of them fatal. MGM-15 appeared in 17 cases, 16 fatal.

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People Involved

SP
Sherrie Pace
Public Information Officer, Utah Poison Control Center
Issuing public warnings
LP
Leon Page
Public Information Officer, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food
Managing product removal from retailers
 Dr. Michael Moss
Dr. Michael Moss
Medical Director, Utah Poison Control Center
Warning about rising hospitalizations
MB
Megan Broekemeier
Forensic epidemiologist, Utah Department of Health and Human Services
Speaking publicly about the Utah deaths

Organizations Involved

Utah Department of Health and Human Services
Utah Department of Health and Human Services
State Government Agency
Issuing urgent public health warning

The state agency responsible for public health that issued the urgent warning.
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food
State Government Agency
Investigating manufacturers with law enforcement and the FDA

The state agency that identified the dangerous semi-synthetic kratom chemicals in the products and is leading the effort to remove them from store shelves.
UP
Utah Poison Control Center
Public Health Service
Providing 24/7 guidance as hospitalizations rise

A public health service providing free, confidential expert advice on poison and overdose emergencies.

Timeline

July 2026 October 2026

6 events Latest: October 21st, 2026 · 3 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. San Francisco reports first MGM-15 overdose death

    Latest Public Health

    San Francisco health officials warned that a 37-year-old man died in late September after taking a product sold as cat’s claw that contained MGM-15, a lab-made kratom opioid. Tests found the drug in the man and in the packaging.

  2. Washington state warns of counterfeit kratom-laced supplement

    Public Health

    The Washington Poison Center warned that an herbal supplement laced with kratom caused at least one overdose in the state and was involved in deaths elsewhere, echoing Utah's alert.

  3. Justice Department outlines new restrictions on concentrated 7-OH

    Regulatory

    The Justice Department announced updated plans to restrict concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine and related compounds. Whole-leaf kratom and mitragynine remain federally uncontrolled.

  4. Utah issues urgent public health warning

    Public Health

    Utah health officials link four deaths to illegal compounds in herbal supplements, including kratom and 'cat's claw' products.

  5. DEA places MGPI, MGM-15 and MGM-16 in Schedule I

    Regulatory

    The federal Drug Enforcement Administration put the semi-synthetic kratom compounds in the strictest drug category for two years. Its order cited surveillance finding MGPI in at least 56 U.S. overdose cases, 48 fatal, and MGM-15 in 17 cases, 16 fatal.

  6. Poison control flags adulterated cat's claw and kava products

    Public Health

    The Utah Poison Control Center warned about 'Buzzers' and 'Homiez' brand products sold in smoke shops that may contain synthetic kratom derivatives including 7-OH, MGPI, MGM-15, and MGM-16.

Scenarios

1

State crackdown removes tainted products from shelves

Possible Resolves by Jan 31, 2027

Discussed by: Utah state agencies (UDAF, DHHS) and the FDA

UDAF's enforcement actions, combined with new state law and the Schedule I classification, successfully push the mislabeled products out of smoke shops, gas stations, and online storefronts. Retailers comply quickly, and public warnings reduce demand. No new deaths are linked to the specific Buzzers-brand products. This outcome hinges on effective cooperation between local and federal agencies.

2

Supply shifts to other synthetic analogues

Uncertain Resolves by Oct 1, 2027

Discussed by: Public health officials and drug policy analysts

The crackdown on MGPI and MGM-15 creates a vacuum that is quickly filled by new, unregulated synthetic analogues. These new compounds are chemically similar but not yet classified as Schedule I, creating a legal gray area. This 'cat-and-mouse' dynamic requires constant legislative and regulatory vigilance to keep up with chemists modifying the molecular structure to avoid bans.

3

DEA Classifies 7-OH as Schedule I

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: NBC News, FDA recommendation

The FDA recommended in July 2025 that the DEA classify 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, as a controlled substance while leaving whole-leaf kratom alone. The DEA temporarily placed three related compounds on Schedule I earlier this year. On Oct. 9, the Justice Department announced updated plans to restrict concentrated 7-OH and related compounds.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2024

Kratom Deaths at Ole Miss (2024)

Two University of Mississippi students died, bringing national attention to kratom and synthetic substances.

Then

The deaths sparked investigations and renewed calls for federal regulation of kratom products.

Now

They highlighted the dangers of unregulated synthetic compounds being added to kratom products to increase potency.

Why this matters now

The Utah cases echo the Ole Miss deaths, showing that the problem of tainted or semi-synthetic kratom is a growing national public health issue, not isolated to one state.

2024

FDA Consent Decrees Against Balance of Nature (2024)

A federal judge ordered a Utah-based dietary supplement distributor and manufacturer to stop producing and selling their products until they complied with federal regulations and good manufacturing practices.

Then

Balance of Nature products were removed from the market until the companies met FDA requirements.

Now

It served as a powerful example of federal enforcement against supplement companies that make unproven health claims and violate manufacturing standards.

Why this matters now

This case underscores the challenges of regulating the dietary supplement industry, particularly in Utah, a hub for such companies, and shows the legal tools available when products pose a public health risk.

Sources

(14)
+8
KSL.com NBC News Deseret News Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Utah Poison Control Center The Independent Medical Daily Bountiful-Farmington Record KIRO 7 San Francisco Department of Public Health Los Angeles Times Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health KUTV KANW