Kombucha tea is often marketed as an alternative therapy. Since it is classified as a food, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as well as other agencies, has oversight powers and has investigated Kombucha tea in the past. Though the FDA has not banned the sale of Kombucha tea, it may pose health risks to some consumers.
Komucha Tea
Kombucha tea is a black tea allowed to ferment in combination with a "mushroom" that grows in the tea. Brent A. Bauer, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic, writes that the Kombucha mushroom is really a bacteria colony that aids in the fermentation process, along with black or green tea and added sugar. After fermenting, Kombucha tea contains vinegar, B vitamins and numerous other chemical compounds.
FDA and Kombucha
Kombucha tea has been linked to severe health problems that have prompted the FDA and other government agencies to investigate the product. in 1995, for example, several people experienced unexplained illnesses. One person died in Iowa after drinking Kombucha tea daily for about two months. The FDA, along with the Iowa Department of Health, investigated the illnesses, but there was no definitive link between the tea and the illnesses, and it is still legal to buy and sell the drink.
Health Risks
The FDA, according to the Mayo Clinic, also cautions consumers against drinking Kombucha tea because the drink has a high risk of contamination or adulteration. The tea is often brewed in home breweries that do not have sterile facilities, and adulteration is possible. Also, some brewers make the tea in ceramic pots, and acids in the tea can leach lead from the ceramic glaze, causing lead poisoning.
Dietary Supplements
Kombucha tea is often offered as a dietary supplement. Unlike with drugs, the FDA does not have to approve a dietary supplement before a manufacturer can sell it in the United States. It is up to the manufacturer to ensure the product is safe for human consumption. If the FDA later finds out the supplement is not safe, it can then recall it from the marketplace.
References
- Centers For Disease Control and Prevention: Unexplained Severe Illness Possibly Associated with Consumption of Kombucha Tea -- Iowa, 1995
- PubMed.gov: A Case of Kombucha Tea Toxicity
- Mayo Clinic: Kombucha Tea: What Are the Health Benefits?; Brent A. Bauer M.D.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Overview of Dietary Supplements
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