FDA pushes to ban chemical found in popular supplement kratom

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is moving to crack down on a chemical called 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, a byproduct of the kratom plant.

The agency says the chemical is showing up in products like gummies, drinks, and vapes, raising concerns that it is being marketed toward kids. But kratom advocates argue that banning the compound could be even more dangerous.

Kratom is a plant native to Southeast Asia that is sold in the U.S. as a supplement for energy and pain relief. All kratom products naturally contain small amounts of 7-OH, but federal officials warn concentrated forms of the chemical pose serious health risks.

"The majority of 7-OH and kratom users use these products for pain relief," said Dr. Michele Ross, Chief Scientific Advisor for the nonprofit 7-HOPE Alliance.

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