Global Kratom Coalition Applauds ReFuel Market for Removing Dangerous 7-Hydroxymitragynine Products

LOS ANGELES, CA -- The Global Kratom Coalition (GKC) commends ReFuel Market for its promise to activist David Bregger to remove the prohibited product 7-Hydro from its Texas retail locations. The GKC also commends ReFuel for its pledge to eliminate synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine products (also called “7”) in other states where the company does business.

The GKC’s recognition comes in response to a recent exposé by Houston Chronicle columnist Chris Tomlinson, highlighting the proliferation of illegal 7 products in Texas. In his column, Tomlinson specifically named ReFuel Market as a retailer selling products branded 7-Hydro marketed by The Collective Group, LLC (doing business as Real Botanicals), manufactured by Charlotte Extraction Labs LLC in Pineville, NC. A "secret shopper" investigation conducted by the Global Kratom Coalition—a central part of the story—confirmed the sale of these dangerous products at multiple ReFuel locations.

ReFuel’s decision follows a call to action from activist David Bregger, who is dedicated to addressing the dangers of mislabeled and highly potent synthetic substances falsely marketed as kratom. Bregger, a retired businessman turned activist, has made it his mission to eliminate illegal access to dangerous products like 7 after his own son passed away due to complications involving unlabeled, highly potent substances.

Concerned that a reputable retailer like ReFuel was selling 7 products, Bregger contacted ReFuel CEO Mark Jordan on February 26. Just one day later, Jordan responded positively with a commitment to remove these products from Texas locations, with a full nationwide removal to follow. This shows ReFuel’s and Jordan’s commitment to ensuring their customers' well-being and safety.

“This is a significant victory for consumer safety and a testament to the power of advocacy and investigative journalism,” said Matthew Lowe, Executive Director of the Global Kratom Coalition. “ReFuel Market should be commended for recognizing the dangers of these products and taking swift action to remove them. Their leadership sets a precedent for other retailers, manufacturers, and law enforcement to follow.”

Products known as 7 are often deceptively branded as kratom and are synthetic derivatives that pose serious risks to consumers. Unlike natural kratom, which is derived from plant leaves and contains a spectrum of naturally occurring alkaloids, these synthetic compounds are far more potent, highly addictive, and associated with severe health risks.

Many state laws, including Texas, limit the amount of 7-hydroxymitragynine in kratom products to 2% or less of total alkaloids to prevent dangerous, adulterated substances from being marketed as kratom. Leading scientists have warned that synthetic 7 products exceed these limits, posing serious risks to consumers.

The Global Kratom Coalition urges other retailers to follow ReFuel’s example and remove these hazardous products from their shelves. Additionally, manufacturers like Charlotte Extraction Labs must cease selling 7 products in states where they are prohibited. In states that have banned these products, the Attorney General must enforce the law to prevent further harm to consumers.

“Whilst this development marks a major step forward, the fight against illicit 7 products is far from over,” said Lowe. “GKC will continue to call for law enforcement and responsible retail practices to ensure that what is sold to the public is both legal and safe.”

The Global Kratom Coalition is an alliance of kratom consumers, experts, and industry leaders dedicated to protecting access to kratom while advancing scientific research, driving consumer education, and developing robust regulations to protect consumers. For more information, visit https://globalkratomcoalition.org.

###