US health officials crack down on kratom-related products after complaints from supplement industry

U.S. health officials are cracking down on an opioid-related ingredient being added to drinks, supplements and other products. The FDA said Tuesday it will recommend that the ingredient be banned under federal law. The substance is a component of kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia that has gained popularity in the U.S. as an unapproved treatment for pain, anxiety and drug dependence. For months, dietary supplement companies that sell kratom have been urging a crackdown on products containing the ingredient. The companies say it is a dangerous, concentrated form of the chemical found in original kratom.