Summary of the Recall
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a voluntary recall by Vanguard Enterprises LLC, doing business as Bedrock MFG, of its Monarch Premium Kratom powders — Bali Gold, Red Bali, Green Maeng Da, and White Elephant — because they may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria [1].
The products were distributed nationwide between April 2023 and September 2023 through retail stores and the company’s website (bedrockbotanicals.com).
No illnesses, hospitalizations, or deaths have been reported to date in connection with this recall [1].
Consumer Actions Recommended:
-Check your products against the FDA recall notice for lot codes and UPC numbers.
-Immediately stop use of any affected products.
-Return recalled items to the manufacturer for replacement or proper disposal as instructed in the recall notice.
FDA Recall Notice: Vanguard Enterprises LLC dba Bedrock MFG Recalls Monarch Premium Kratom Powder (October 30, 2025).
Understanding the Risk
Salmonella contamination is a known risk in all natural and organic agricultural products — including leafy greens, herbs, spices, sprouts, and teas. According to the CDC, Salmonella causes approximately 1.35 million illnesses, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths each year in the United States [2].
Over the period 2017–2025, this equates to roughly 10 million reported cases, 180,000 hospitalizations, and nearly 3,000 deaths from Salmonella in all foods and natural products combined [2].
By comparison, 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].
These data demonstrate that kratom’s relative risk profile for Salmonella is extremely low when proper testing and manufacturing standards are applied.
Kratom Consumer Protection Standards Are Working
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 [4].
The Proper Regulatory Response
Salmonella contamination can occur in any raw or leafy organic product, and in many consumer products like peanut butter, eggs, cucumbers, seafood, chicken, fruits, pork, seeded vegetables (such as tomatoes), other produce (such as nuts), beef, and turkey -- but any food can become contaminated, even processed foods (such as flour).
The appropriate public-health response is testing and inspection of potentially contaminated products, targeted recalls of identified batches, and ongoing monitoring of manufacturing and import controls — not blanket prohibitions.
This targeted approach — as demonstrated in the Bedrock MFG recall — protects consumers while preserving access to safe, regulated kratom products.
What Consumers Should Do
1. Check your products against the FDA recall notice linked above.
2. Stop use immediately if your product matches the recalled lot codes.
3. Report any suspected illness to your state health department or FDA MedWatch.
4. Purchase only from KCPA-compliant brands that provide microbial testing results and traceability information.
Key Takeaway
While no illnesses or deaths have been linked to the current Bedrock MFG recall, consumers should exercise caution by verifying their products. Enhanced testing requirements in U.S. states
and Indonesia now make Salmonella contamination in kratom far less likely. Regulation — not prohibition — remains the most effective tool for protecting public health while preserving consumer access to safe, natural kratom products.
Industry Guidance
The AKA recommends all kratom manufacturers review the “Guidance on Testing, Sampling and Quality Control Procedures for Kratom Products” [5].
References
1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Vanguard Enterprises LLC dba Bedrock MFG Recalls Monarch Premium Kratom Powder Because of Possible Salmonella Contamination.” FDA Recalls and Safety Alerts, October 30, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/vanguard-enterprises-llc-dba-bedrock-mfg-recalls-monarch-premium-kratom-powder-because-possible
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Salmonella and Food.” CDC.gov, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/index.html
3. CDC & FDA Joint Outbreak Report. “Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Kratom (2017–2018).” CDC Archive. https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/salmonella/kratom-02-18/index.html
4. Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and Indonesian National Standardization Agency (BSN). “Microbial Testing Standards for Kratom Export Commodities.” Jakarta, 2024. https://www.kratomit.eu/blog/regulation-and-ban-on-imports-of-kratom-from-indonesia/
5. Guidance on Testing, Sampling and Quality Control Procedures for Kratom Products. https://marketing-pdv-assets.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/AKA+-+Guidance+on+Testing%2C+Sampling+%26+Quality+Control.pdf
