Vanguard Enterprises, LLC, doing business as Bedrock MFG and operating out of Boise, Idaho, has issued a voluntary nationwide recall of its “Monarch Premium Kratom” products after a sample tested positive for Salmonella, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed on October 31.
The recall covers four specific product varieties of the Monarch Premium Kratom brand: Bali Gold, Red Bali, Green Maeng Da and White Elephant. These powders were distributed in multiple size formats—ranging from 14 g to 224 g pouches—and sold via retail and online through the company’s website between April 2023 and September 2023.
A retail sample collected by the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS) revealed contamination with Salmonella, prompting the recall action in coordination with the FDA. The FDA noted that while no illnesses have yet been reported in connection with these specific products, the firm acted “with knowledge of” the agency to initiate the recall.
Though there is no evidence of any illness contracted from the consumption of these products, salmonella infection can cause symptoms including fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In more severe cases—particularly among young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals—there is a risk of bloodstream infection, endocarditis, arterial infections and arthritis. Salmonella can and has occurred in a wide variety of foods and dietary supplements
The recall applies to the Monarch Premium Kratom powders under the following lot codes and UPCs:
- Bali Gold (4 oz/112 g) – UPC 851006008428 – Lot 020123PA3F-T
- Bali Gold (8 oz/224 g) – UPC 706970483712 – Lot 020123PA3F-T
- Green Maeng Da (4 oz/112 g) – UPC 851006008466 – Lot 020123PA3F-G
- …and others (2 oz, 0.5 oz sizes) under the same lot prefix.
Consumers who have purchased any of the affected products are strongly urged not to consume them. Instead, they should contact Bedrock MFG’s consumer support for a full refund. The company has set up a hotline (1-888-347-5088) and email ([email protected]).
American Kratom Association Response
The American Kratom Association (AKA) points out in a press release that out of 10 million reported cases of salmonella in the past 8 years, “only one confirmed multistate outbreak of Salmonella linked to kratom products has been documented to date: the 2017–2018 CDC-reported outbreak involved 199 illnesses across 41 states and 50 hospitalizations (38%), with no deaths reported [3].”
The AKA lauded regulations implemented since 2018 that have limited salmonella contamination risks.
Across 18 states, legislatures have enacted Kratom Consumer Protection Acts (KCPAs) that require microbial testing for each batch of kratom products (including Salmonella, E. coli, and mold), transparent labeling and traceability, and immediate recalls or market withdrawals of non-compliant products.
Additionally, the Indonesian government, which supplies the majority of raw kratom leaf to the United States, has implemented new supply-chain standards that mandate microbial testing of kratom products prior to export, thereby substantially reducing the risk of Salmonella contamination at the source
Rather than prohibition, the AKA argues that the appropriate response is “testing and inspection of potentially contaminated products, targeted recalls of identified batches, and ongoing monitoring of manufacturing and import controls”.