GMP

How To Know If Your Kratom Is Authentic?

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Are you looking to buy high-quality, authentic Kratom but don’t know where to go?

This herbal supplement from Southeast Asia is gaining in popularity, with users consuming it to alleviate their depression, pain, and even anxiety symptoms.

In fact, research suggests that up to 16 million Americans regularly enjoy Kratom’s benefits. And as Kratom’s usage prevalence is increasing across the country, so is the number of vendors. 

Now, while some vendors are legit and sell high-quality, unadulterated Kratom, there are also many scammers who will trick you out of your money. And what’s maybe worse is that some vendors sell fake Kratom, which can have serious health consequences.

Unfortunately, you can’t distinguish authentic Kratom from bad quality Kratom by just looking at it. The only way to avoid bad surprises and ensure you buy top-notch supplies is to buy from a trustworthy vendor.

And to help you find the right Kratom vendor, we’ve highlighted below the key things you should look for when buying Kratom.

Look For AKA GMP Qualified Vendors

Vendors import the Kratom leaves, blend them, package them, store them, and are responsible for testing them in a lab for purity and potency.

So, if you want to know if a vendor is selling high-quality Kratom products, you need to check whether they’re listed as a GMP Qualified vendor on the American Kratom Association’s website. GMP stands for good manufacturing practices. 

In 2019, The American Kratom Association created the AKA GMP Standards program to set high standards in terms of the manufacturing process and ensure Kratom lovers could access authentic and high-quality products. After a strict and diligent third-party audit conducted annually, vendors that meet the program’s standards can obtain their AKA GMP qualified status.

Left Coast Kratom is proud to achieve AKA GMP compliance certification every year. Our facility is frequently audited and routinely passes inspections.

Avoid purchasing your Kratom from people on Craigslist or eBay, as this is a surefire way to receive counterfeit products. 

Customer Reviews

Did you know that in 2018, 199 people across the country got infected with Salmonella?

The FDA later discovered that the outbreak was due to the consumption of Kratom contaminated with the bacteria!

Today, customer reviews are a fantastic way for new customers to assess whether a vendor is trustworthy and avoid buying contaminated Kratom. But it’s also a good way to find the best strain for you based on the feedback of other customers.

Some of the other benefits of reading online reviews include assessing real shipping times and customer service as well as understanding the company’s refund policy.

Also, as a word of advice, don’t read the first couple of reviews you see and assume that they are legit. Unfortunately, depending on the medium they’re published on, they could be fabricated. For instance, if the reviews are on Facebook, make sure to check the Facebook users’ accounts to ensure they’re real. 

If the reviews are only listed on the website, and nowhere else, it could be a red flag.

Health Claims

Kratom is not yet fully FDA-approved. This means there are restrictions regarding what Kratom vendors can say about their products. For instance, they are prohibited from making any health claims such as telling customers their product can treat specific diseases or positioning their product as a medicine. 

If a vendor sells Kratom claiming benefits such as ‘’stops depression or addictions, improves sexual performance or treats diabetes’’, you should look for another vendor as this is illegal, calling into question the vendor’s legitimacy.

Even though Kratom has many health benefits, more research is needed for the botanical product to be fully endorsed by the FDA. Reliable and high-quality Kratom vendors will follow the guidelines and comply with the regulations, and any vendor doing otherwise should raise a red flag.

Be Wary Of Alluring Deals

Sure, buying a Kratom product for a 75% discount is appealing.

But the reality is that when a deal is too good to be true, it’s probably a scam. Always compare pricing for the same strains and never go for extremely discounted products. If someone is offering huge discounts and selling at very low prices, they’re likely cutting corners, and the quality of your Kratom might be impacted.

And that’s a wrap!

We hope this blog post will help you source the finest quality Kratom and enjoy the many benefits of this botanical product. If you have any more questions about finding authentic Kratom, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’d love to help!

What We Say: How and Why Kratom Advertising Is Restricted

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Kratom is classified as a food in many parts of the United States. This classification puts limitations on what we as kratom vendors can and cannot say about our products. The FDA limits what is permitted, and we must follow those guidelines if we want to be able to continue to market and sell our products legally.

How exactly do these restrictions come into play, and why aren’t we fighting against them?

Let’s talk about kratom, kratom labeling, and how advocacy organizations are working to improve the misinformation surrounding kratom.

What Can And Cannot Be Said

Ultimately, the FDA has made it clear that they are willing and able to send cease-and-desist letters to any kratom vendor that is publishing what they deem to be unsubstantiated claims.

Even in the articles that we publish, we have to be careful about our language and how we talk about kratom.

In the past, companies selling kratom have made huge claims about what kratom can do, and the FDA pushed back against these. But it wasn’t only bold claims that the FDA warned about; simple, seemingly common knowledge statements have also attracted their attention. 

Risky Statements

What type of statements do we have to be careful about when using on our site? There are many, and it is also difficult for us to follow these limitations. We want to be as open, clear, and helpful as possible for our customers, but FDA rules make this difficult at times.

These are just a few examples of statements that have got kratom vendors into trouble with the FDA in the past:

  • Claiming that people use kratom as an alternative to some medications.
  • Claiming that people prefer kratom over their other medication options.
  • Claiming that people use kratom to help them stop using other things.
  • Claiming that kratom has specific benefits.

We know that these examples are vague, and that is intentional as not to catch ourselves in this trap. As you can see from the breadth of those examples, however, it becomes difficult for honest vendors like ourselves to share any information or evidence with our customers without risking trouble.

What Are Unsubstantiated Claims?

Let’s talk a little more specifically about what the FDA considers “unsubstantiated claims,” which is the most common reason they send out warning letters. We’ve given a few vague examples above, but let’s look at direct news from the FDA to see how they frame their approach.

Specifically, a press report from the FDA states the following:

  • Vendors are selling kratom “with deceptive medical claims for which there’s no reliable scientific proof to support their use.”
  • Vendors “ take advantage of consumers by selling products with unsubstantiated claims that they can treat opioid addiction.”

If the FDA is truly against products that are not backed by science and willing to support kratom research, that would be an understandable position. However, the statement goes on to say that Kratom is an “opioid analog that may actually contribute to the opioid epidemic,” which may be an unsubstantiated claim by the FDA’s own rules.

Additionally, the FDA report states that the FDA is willing to look into how kratom may or may not relieve pain or opioid addiction symptoms if people believe that kratom’s active ingredients show that potential. However, the AKA states that FDA has refused to support that type of research for years.

Simultaneously, the National Institute on Drug Abuse has refused to support scheduling kratom as a drug because NIDA’s own research has not borne out that claim according to NIDA’s standards.

As you can see, it is a very confusing field for kratom vendors like ourselves to navigate. Our goal is always to provide safe, high-quality products to our customers. We want to support those products with information, but it isn’t always an easy thing to do.

The Standards We Follow

How do we handle the labeling and advertising of our products when faced with limitations and concerns about what we can and cannot say?

As members of the American Kratom Association’s GMP Compliance Program, we ensure that our labeling fits these things’ standards. AKA is up-to-date with the FDA’s latest requirements, and they are also at the forefront of helping to implement Kratom Consumer Protection Acts in states across the country.

In short, they know what they’re talking about when it comes to labeling, advertising, and more.

As of June 2020, the compliance program has laid out the following guidelines for vendors and marketing:

  • Labels may not include:
    • Any disease-related or unauthorized health claims
    • Any reference to a “high”
    • Any reference to clinical or research data
  • Labels must:
    • Be fully compliant with FDA claim rules
    • Include a batch or lot number
    • Affirm that mitragynine and 7-OH alkaloids haven’t been altered from their original allocation
    • Advise consumers to talk to a physician about dosing
    • Include a statement that pregnant women should not use kratom
    • Include this exact statement:  “This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition.”

These same rules apply to the descriptions, websites, and advertisements used when marketing kratom products.

New: The Truth in Labeling Program

Recently, the American Kratom Association has started a reporting program known as the Truth in Labeling Program.

Due to the rise in vendors directly going against the guidelines expected by the FDA, the American Kratom Association and other advocates have seen a need for a program to keep track of and improve improper labeling practices.

Through this program, the AKA hopes to educate vendors that are putting the industry at risk through dishonest practices. If the vendors refuse to change their ways, the industry will start to self-regulate by reporting offenders to the FDA. To read more about how or why the Truth in Labeling Program is meant to work, you can check out AKA’s statement.

How The Future of Kratom Relies On The GMP Program

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The kratom industry in America has always been a bit shaky, especially from the outside looking in. Due to strict rules, importation problems, and changing laws, the status of kratom is not always clear or consistent. This can lead to some fear and discomfort among both kratom vendors and kratom consumers.

Due to this uncertainty, the GMP program was established by the American Kratom Association in an attempt to organize and plan for the future of the kratom industry. Varying laws and disorganization were putting the industry’s future at risk. The GMP program has, in many ways, smoothed out many of those risks.

In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into understanding the GMP program and what it is all about. How can a single program change the future of the industry forever? Find out today!

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All About The GMP Program

If you aren’t familiar with the GMP program run by the American Kratom Association, don’t worry! We’ll cover it (and why it matters for consumers like you) today.

The GMP Program, also known as the Good Manufacturing Practices Program, is a standards program that was set up to help kratom vendors establish a high level of manufacturing. The program sets up certain industry standards that help to ensure every batch of kratom sold is safe and reliable for consumers.

What Guidelines Are Established?

The specific guidelines established by the GMP program are very detailed. If you want to read the full guidelines, you can check them out on the AKA website here.

Generally, these guidelines set up provisions to ensure the following:

  1. Kratom is being tested regularly
  2. Kratom is being tested in batches that are tracked with proper documentation.
  3. The facilities are being managed in safe, secure ways.
  4. The workers are in safe conditions and are also being encouraged to follow safety procedures properly.
  5. The labeling on kratom is not misleading for consumers.
  6. The business is being properly audited by a 3rd party every year.
  7. There are systems in place to track the complete kratom supply chain being used.

Each of these areas, as well as all of the others covered in the complete guidelines, are important to ensure that the kratom sold to customers is being monitored for safety. Before these guidelines existed, there were discrepancies within the community about what level of testing was necessary.

With industry standards like the GMP rules in place, it makes it easier to share and apply all new research about what is best for kratom processing as well.

How Are Vendors Added?

If a vendor wants to join the GMP program, they have to make sure that they are compliant with all of the guidelines. That, however, is just one step of the complete process. Joining the GMP isn’t necessarily simple, but it is a worthwhile time investment for vendors.

Here is what vendors have to do to join the program:

  1. Enroll on AKA’s website.
  2. Complete the initial 3rd party audit within 90 days.
  3. If the 90-day audit window is missed, AKA will work with the vendor to find out if this was a reasonable mistake or if their practices are out of the GMP requirements. The AKA will update their participant list accordingly.
  4. Every year, the vendor must complete another 3rd party audit.

As long as a vendor remains in line with the guidelines laid out by the AKA’s program, they will be able to stay in the program for many years to come.

Why Does GMP Matter?

Has it become clear to you why the GMP is so important yet?

If not, that’s okay!

It can be confusing to pay attention to the behind-the-scenes workings of an industry when you are just a consumer in that area. Let’s focus on why the GMP program should matter to you.

There are a few major reasons why having this program in place is so important for kratom consumers:

  • Gives you an easy way to check if your preferred vendors take safety seriously
  • Ensures that only safe and tested kratom is being sold
  • Helps track any contaminated batches and who bought them if that should happen
  • Builds up the community into a respected, safe place

Kratom’s status in the United States can be scary and confusing when the laws are different depending on where you live. A program like GMP helps to ensure that regardless of limited state laws and actions, the industry as a whole is being held to a level of high-quality.

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Left Coast Kratom and GMP

Left Coast Kratom is a proud member of the GMP program. In addition to passing the initial screenings after we made sure that our business was in line with the guidelines, we continue to update our processes to follow the best practices as they are updated by the GMP program.

As time goes on, we believe that having such high standards in the industry is going to make it a better place for consumers and vendors alike.

Support The GMP Program

The best way that you, as a consumer, can support the GMP program is to make sure that you are only buying from vendors that are actively working towards accreditation or are, even better, already participants.

The complete list of qualified vendors is updated on AKA’s website regularly.

Buying from vendors on this list rather than those that do not take these protections seriously helps to ensure the future of safe kratom in America. When low-quality products make it to the market, they put the entire industry at risk.

Shopping Locally

Kratom lovers that love to shop for kratom locally can still follow this rule by checking out the list of vendors before they hit up their local shop. In the shop, you should be able to find more than one brand option for kratom. And if your local shop doesn’t carry any qualified vendors, you can strike up a conversation and find out why not!

In some cases, they may not be able to source from those vendors, or they may not be aware of the program’s importance. Either way, getting involved with kratom advocation at the local level is a great thing to do.

COVID-19 & Kratom: We Can Continue Shipping To You

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During this time of social distancing and great change, we’d like to let our customers know that we are still open for business and will continue shipping kratom and other items to you throughout this pandemic.

Though things are far from normal right now, we are doing our best to ensure that we can safely and efficiently continue to supply our customers while also protecting our employees.

Today, we’d like to share more about how we specifically have been responding to the COVID-19 risks as well as how we will continue to do so for as long as possible as we move back to a new normal.

How We Continue Online Shipping

Though you may not be able to visit your local store to buy kratom if you like to shop in person, you can continue to order from our website at this time. As an e-commerce company, we are able to continue business as long as we are taking the necessary precautions to protect our customers and employees.

Product Handling & Disinfecting Procedures

Here at Left Coast Kratom, we already follow a strict set of safety guidelines through the Good Manufacturing Practices program. These safety guidelines include protective gear, regular product testing, and deep cleaning as much as possible. We have expanded these guidelines to include the guidance promoted by the FDA and CDC for food safety at this time.

More specifically, we have done the following:

  • • Scheduled sanitation and deep cleaning more frequently
  • • Improved cleaning measures with the COVID-specific guidance from the FDA
  • • Amped up how frequently high-touch areas are sanitized
  • • Ensured packing is done with sanitized protective gear on

By doing these four things, we can make sure that our food-safe facility remains safe during this trying time. These actions help to protect our employees, and they also help to ensure that the packages we send out are safe, too.

Employee Safety & Social Distancing

We care deeply about the safety of our team here at Left Coast Kratom, so we have also taken steps to ensure that they are kept as safe as possible. At the same time, we continue to serve customers like you during this time.

There are a few specific things that we are doing to ensure this:

  • • Setting up social distancing policies within the facility
  • • Keeping delivery folks and non-essential visitors out of the facility
  • • Providing free transportation to those that use public transportation
  • • Providing extra PTO to our employees as needed
  • • Sharing guidance we receive from CDC, FDA, etc. with our employees

This situation is always evolving, and we will continue to change our policies as needed to ensure that our employees are kept as safe as possible.

We are also paying close attention to CDC guidance about how to handle any cases should they arise and will use their interim guidance to handle that situation if needed. The health of our team is very important to us, so we are doing our best to keep that in mind as we continue business during this period.

Is Receiving Mail Safe?

Some concerned customers have read about the virus living on surfaces for hours or even days, and this concerns them when they think about receiving packages. Even if we do our part to keep everything disinfected, it can be scary to not know if your packages are safe.

At this time, the CDC and FDA have not made any recommendations to stop receiving packages, and they are encouraging delivery and at-home shopping in order to avoid human-to-human contact.

Though there is some degree of risk of the virus living on a surface, the risk is significantly lower than it is through human-to-human contact, so delivery is going to be a better option.

There are a few things that can be done to give your packages an extra round of disinfection to ease any anxiety that you may have about the virus:

  • • Wash your hands thoroughly before and after touching all packages.
  • • Use a Lysol wipe or another high-alcohol content wipe to wipe down the outside of all packages when you receive them. Alcohol break down the fat layer of the virus and causes it to fall apart.
  • • If you do not have any wipes available, you can leave your packages to sit a designated area for 1-2 days before opening it.
  • • Order less frequently so that you have fewer packages to disinfect.
  • • Keep packages in one area rather than carrying them through your home before you disinfect them. If possible, disinfect them outside and then come inside to wash your hands.

The virus has been shown to be able to live on cardboard for up to 24 hours in ideal conditions; real-world conditions are unlikely to allow it to live that long. Still, you can provide yourself additional peace-of-mind by taking the time to disinfect your packages.

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COVID Support

Beyond updating our internal policies to ensure that we are handling, packing, and shipping your orders as safely as possible, we are also proud to share that we are doing our best to support the community as well.

In response to the pandemic, we have increased our regular donations to these organizations:

  • • Outside In
  • • The Pixie Project
  • • KIVA
  • • Dads4Life 

Additionally, we are continuing our regular support of AKA and AHPA for the work that they do to ensure the safety of kratom lovers around the world, all year long.

Our COVID Policies

If you would like to see our latest response to the COVID-19 situation, please check out this dedicated landing page. Here, we will continue to update any changes in our business that are caused by the ongoing pandemic should they arise.

If you have any specific questions or want to get into contact with questions about our COVID-19 response or anything else, you can contact us through our website here. We have limited our phone operations due to COVID-19, but you can still use our live chat and web contact features!

What Is The AKA? How The American Kratom Association Is Changing Everything

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The world is full of companies and organizations that are working hard to change things for the better. Some of these organizations have bigger impacts on our lives than others, and many have work that goes unknown to a huge majority of the population.

Even as a kratom consumer, you might not be familiar with AKA. What is the AKA? AKA, which stands for American Kratom Association, is an organization that is working to ensure the legality and safety of kratom products for kratom users in America.

While that sentence gives you a brief idea of what AKA is doing in the world of kratom, there is a lot more to learn about if you want to get a full grasp on how they might have an effect on your own life and experiences. Let’s deep dive into the details of this fascinating organization and why we are supporting their efforts in the interesting world of kratom!

AKA Basics

First, let’s cover the most important basics of AKA so that you can find out what the American Kratom Association was founded on as well as what their goals are today.

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What Is The AKA?

The American Kratom Association, often abbreviated as AKA, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the standards, processes, safety, and legal status of kratom in America. 

In order to protect consumers of kratom, AKA is taking a leading position to ensure that the industry is better regulated to ensure safety for customers from both dangerous products and unfair laws.

The Mission

According to its website, AKA’s mission is divided into five main categories. Here’s what AKA themselves have to say about their goals:

  1. 1. Support Consumers. We believe many political and private entities don’t make the needs of the consumer and constituents a priority. Our goal is to change that.
  2. 2. Educate. Kratom has many beneficial purposes and is an all-natural alternative. Our goal is to educate all Americans—from potential consumers to regulators and everyone in between.
  3. 3. Amplify. We represent thousands of Americans that each have a story to tell. We believe the current environment in the United States often does not listen to individual voices and together we will make our voice heard.
  4. 4. Global Awareness. We hope to demonstrate responsible use and practical knowledge other countries may study when considering Kratom legislation.
  5. 5. Protect Natural Resources. Kratom is a precious natural resource. We support and advocate for sustainable harvesting techniques and reforestation efforts.

All of the work that AKA has been doing proves just how committed they are to these goals. Through changes in laws spearheaded by their efforts and changes to the way that kratom sellers are doing business in this country, their effect in the larger American kratom community is apparent. It’s hard to imagine what the kratom industry would look like without their efforts.

We Love The GMP Compliance Program!

One of our favorite things that AKA has worked on in recent years is the GMP compliance program. GMP, which stands for Good Manufacturing Practices, is an acronym used in many different industries. Most industries have a standard level of safety and performance that is expected from manufacturers, but the kratom industry was missing this.

AKA set out to change that.

Through their efforts, the GMP Compliance Program was established, and we are very happy to be members of the program here at Left Coast Kratom.

What Does The GMP Compliance Program Do?

The GMP Program run by AKA sets up a series of standards that must be followed when processing, making, or selling Kratom. The rules require specific types of packaging, testing, labeling, marketing, and educational efforts be made by the vendor. If they do not pass their yearly audit by a third-party, they can no longer be part of the program.

Vendors that commit to following the best practices laid out by the GMP program are more likely to sell quality products to their customers, and this improves the safety for their customers.

Additionally, there are some great secondary effects of ensuring product safety beyond just ensuring that customers are safe. As you might know, many states are considering banning kratom because of outdated and inaccurate data; dangerous kratom supplies can further motivate these types of laws.

By helping to ensure that additional safety checks are in place, it is less likely that any kratom-related incidents will occur in America.

What Is LCK Doing?

To join the GMP compliance program, we took the practices suggested by AKA and improved the way that we were working with our kratom products. While we have always had the safety of our customers in mind, the research done by AKA for the program is incredibly thorough. This meant that we were able to further refine our safety practices to ensure the best for our customers.

Moving forward, we are always sure to follow the examples and guidelines laid out by AKA for the GMP program. The program is hugely important to how we do business, and we hope that our customers are able to feel just how much we care.

Why You Should Love AKA, Too

We’re not the only ones who should love AKA for all the amazing work that they have done in the Kratom industry. You should, too!

As a consumer and member of the kratom community, AKA has already had a huge impact on your life even if you haven’t realized it before. Most vendors in America are following AKA’s lead in safety practices. And if it wasn’t for AKA’s efforts, kratom might already be completely banned in America!

The American Kratom Association is working tirelessly to protect consumers like you, and we think that’s pretty cool. If you want to continue to support their efforts, there are a few things that you can do:

  • • Donate to their work and research directly
  • • Only purchase kratom via GMP-compliant vendors to ensure quality and safety
  • • Join AKA’s local advocacy efforts
  • • Support kratom regulation laws and protections at the local level

AKA is doing everything it can to ensure that you can continue to enjoy kratom safely and legally. Here at LCK, we’re doing our best to follow that same mentality. What will you do to help the community thrive?

Good Manufacturing Practices Matter: Why We Take GMP Seriously

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In every industry, there is an expected standard for safety, manufacturing, and consumer knowledge. For food products, for example, manufacturers must meet health codes and label all products properly before the consumer ever sees them.

In the kratom industry, however, such standards are still being established. Without strict regulation or rules due to the precarious legal status of kratom in some states, some vendors and producers are not being monitored in any way. This leaves consumers at risk, and that’s not okay.

The American Kratom Association has stepped up to the plate to create the GMP Compliance Program, also known as Good Manufacturing Practices. These industry standards are meant to protect kratom consumers, and we can’t wait to see them take effect on a larger scale.

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Introducing The American Kratom Association

Before we get into the specifics of how good manufacturing practices make a difference, let’s introduce some information that you should know about the American Kratom Association. Also known as AKA, this association has committed itself to ensure that kratom consumers and vendors are legally protected.

This means that the nonprofit organization wears a lot of different hats while working, but the main goals that they have set out to accomplish are as follows:

  • • Support customers
  • • Educate politicians, vendors, and consumers
  • • Amplify the voices of kratom lovers everywhere
  • • Raise global awareness of safe and practical kratom information
  • • Protect natural kratom resources

The work that we have seen American Kratom Association do is absolutely amazing. They make a real difference in the way that people can use and access Kratom. For example, they’ve spent a lot of time in the last three years helping to pass legal regulations and protections for kratom consumption in various states.

Our Involvement With AKA

We find that the work the American Kratom Association is doing is essential. Inspired by their mission and messages, we’ve taken a lot of time to ensure that we are doing our part to educate our consumers.

These blog posts, for example, are just one way that we are trying to make information about kratom, how it is used, and what is going on behind-the-scenes in the industry more accessible to anyone who is curious. We hope that consumers like you find these pieces to be useful for your own educational purposes.

Another way that we are keeping up with AKA’s practices is by joining their GMP program. GMP, which stands for Good Manufacturing Practices, are generally standard practices used in specific industries to ensure that all products that make it to consumers are safe and legal. 

These standards did not officially exist in the kratom industry, so AKA has set out to change that. Since AKA created its GMP program, many vendors have taken the time to improve their practices and follow the new industry standard. Some states have even adopted a variation of the GMP rules as official legal regulatory guidelines for kratom in that state.

GMP: Good Manufacturing Practices

What exactly are the Good Manufacturing Practices that the American Kratom Association asks of any vendors who want to be recognized as GMP-compliant? By understanding what these measures are, you’ll gain a better idea of the industry.

The GMP Program

Kratom products are sold as food products, so the only legal requirements placed on them by the federal government are the basic rules set by the FDA. The American Kratom Associate researched what needed to be done for manufacturing, labeling, and verification requirements that go above and beyond what the FDA has in place.

Specifically, the vendors that want to be GMP-compliant must pay attention to the following:

  • • Annual 3rd party audit to ensure all procedures are being followed
  • • Proper personnel training
  • • Clean, sanitary, and functioning equipment
  • • Random sampling for pathogens or contamination
  • • Proper procedures for all aspects of receiving and monitoring supplies
  • • Proper recordkeeping
  • • Manufacturing records according to the AKA’s outline
  • • Keeping thorough batch records
  • • Appropriate quality control standards
  • • Establish and follow a reporting system for any discovered problems
  • • Proper labeling and advertising

The complete guidelines laid out by AKA are thorough, and the yearly audit completed by a third-party carefully ensures that the vendor is following them. If a vendor misses their audit period, they will have to improve their standards and reapply in the future for AKA to consider their reinitiation into the program.

What We’re Doing

We’ve posted before about our efforts to follow these standards. While we are officially recognized by AKA as a GMP-qualified vendor, we are still constantly striving to improve our manufacturing practices.

A few things that we are always doing include:

  • • Finding new ways to test for potential pathogens
  • • Revamping our sanitation controls and procedures
  • • Screening our supplier and products
  • • Testing more accurately
  • • Testing more comprehensively

Everything that AKA suggests that we do, we do our best to implement as quickly and effectively as possible. AKA has done a lot of work to figure out what needs to be done to maintain the safety of kratom, and we appreciate that. The very least that we can do is make sure that we follow their great example!

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Why You Should Care About Quality Control

You might be wondering why we think you care about quality control, and the answer is pretty simple. You should care!

When you use kratom, the product can have some very real effects on your life and body. If you were to be sold contaminated kratom or something that isn’t what it says it is, wouldn’t you be upset? By supporting companies that have good manufacturing practices in place or only buying from those that are AKA GMP compliant, you are protecting yourself.

That’s not the only reason to care about GMP-compliance, either. There have been a few instances of contaminated kratom causing problems for users in the past, and we want to avoid repeating those situations at all costs.

Vendor-focused programs like the GMP programs help to ensure that consumers are protected at the legal level as well. If there are no contamination incidents, such incidents cannot be used to change the laws about kratom. And that is key to protecting the future of the kratom industry!