Story perspectives

Amazon probes nominee’s kava supplement amid safety concerns

5/22/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Amazon opened a compliance probe into Drop RX supplements sold by surgeon-general nominee Dr. Nicole Saphier.
Drop RX Calm’s first ingredient is kava, barred by the U.S. military in April 2024 for liver-toxicity risk.
Health watchdogs warned that kava is linked to liver damage and appears on the Defense Department’s prohibited-supplements list.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s conflict-of-interest policy bars staff from endorsing commercial products, leaving the hospital’s confirmation of Saphier’s compliance pending.

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Story summary

Amazon opened a compliance probe into Drop RX supplements sold by surgeon-general nominee Dr. Nicole Saphier.
Drop RX Calm’s first ingredient is kava, barred by the U.S. military in April 2024 for liver-toxicity risk.
Health watchdogs warned that kava is linked to liver damage and appears on the Defense Department’s prohibited-supplements list.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s conflict-of-interest policy bars staff from endorsing commercial products, leaving the hospital’s confirmation of Saphier’s compliance pending.