Mislabeled Kratom Tablets Linked to Utah Death, Officials Warn
Laboratory tests found potent, illegal kratom-derived opioids and state agencies have ordered retailers to remove the product and urged consumers to destroy it.
Overview
- State health and agriculture officials issued a public warning Thursday, July 30, tying Buzzers brand Cat’s Claw tablets to a Utah death and several severe overdoses after state lab tests identified mitragynine pseudoindoxyl and MGM-15.
- The product was labeled as Cat’s Claw, an unrelated herbal supplement, but testing showed it contained opioid-acting kratom derivatives that are Schedule I under Utah law.
- The Utah Poison Control Center recommends giving naloxone for suspected overdoses from these tablets and treating withdrawal with standard opioid addiction care when appropriate.
- The Utah Department of Agriculture & Food has told retailers to immediately remove and safely destroy Buzzers Cat’s Claw stock and is working with law enforcement to pull remaining product from shelves.
- This incident follows a 2026 state law that restricts kratom sales to pure-leaf forms and highlights risks from mislabeled supplements and chemically modified kratom compounds entering the consumer market.