Feel Free customers say the kratom drink is making them sick. Toothless FDA rules on dietary supplements are helping it remain a bestseller.

The article focuses on the rise of Feel Free, a plant-based herbal supplement marketed as an energy drink, which has recently surpassed 5-hour Energy in sales at a major convenience store chain. Feel Free contains kratom and kava, but many users report adverse effects, including addiction and severe health issues, leading to a class-action lawsuit against its manufacturer, Botanic Tonics. Despite these concerns and a settlement of $8.75 million for misleading labeling, Feel Free continues to thrive in the market, raising questions about the regulatory environment for dietary supplements in the U.S. The FDA has stated that kratom is not appropriate for use as a dietary supplement, yet the industry operates in a legal gray area with minimal oversight. [Extracted from the article]