Fort Myers, FL. When Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier signed an emergency rule this June immediately scheduling concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and related compounds as Schedule I controlled substances, it sent shockwaves through the functional beverage industry. The rule caps 7-OH and related compounds at no more than 1mg per gram or milliliter of product, and requires that any product containing 7-OH also contain at least 100 times more regular mitragynine by mass, in effect, no more than 1mg of 7-OH for every 100mg of standard kratom alkaloid content. That standard has left many kratom brands scrambling to reformulate or pull products from Florida shelves entirely.
For Burma Brewing, a Fort Myers-based co-manufacturer specializing in ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages featuring functional actives like kratom, kava, kanna, and mushrooms, the rule change is less of a crisis and more of a confirmation.
"[Placeholder quote, please edit or replace]: 'We built our production process around precision from day one, not because we saw this specific rule coming, but because we always believed dosing accuracy was where this industry was headed. Brands that partner with us aren't scrambling right now, they're already positioned,'" said Joe Tolisano of Burma Brewing.
A Formulation Problem, Not Just a Legal OneWhile much of the coverage of Florida's new rule has focused on the legal and regulatory fallout, the practical challenge for brands is fundamentally one of manufacturing precision: hitting an exact, consistent ratio of active compounds, batch after batch, at commercial scale. Brands that have relied on less precise dosing methods now face a much narrower compliance margin and far less room for error.
Burma Brewing's proprietary Emulsion Technology was built around exactly this kind of challenge. By encapsulating functional actives at the molecular level, the process gives Burma Brewing fine control over how much of each active ends up in a finished beverage, and in what proportion to one another. That level of control allows the company to work with brand partners to formulate RTD products that target specific compound ratios, such as the mitragynine-to-7-OH threshold now required under Florida law, without sacrificing the taste, feel, and functional performance consumers expect.
"[Placeholder quote, please edit or replace]: 'Precise dosing control is the foundation you need to formulate within a rule like this one. That is the piece we already had in place before the rule ever existed,'" Tolisano added.
Built for Brands Facing a Moving Regulatory TargetBeyond formulation flexibility, Burma Brewing has built its co-manufacturing model around helping emerging brands navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape. The company's low minimum order quantities (MOQs) allow startup and mid-sized brands to reformulate, test, and bring compliant products to market without the capital burden that larger production runs typically require, a meaningful advantage as brands nationwide reassess their formulations in the wake of Florida's action and anticipate similar moves in other states.
The company has also continued to expand its production capacity, adding rotary production lines and integrating new actives and technologies to keep pace with demand from brands looking for a manufacturing partner who can move quickly as rules shift.
Staying Ahead, Not Catching UpAs more states weigh their own restrictions on kratom-derived compounds, Burma Brewing's leadership sees the Florida rule as an early signal of where the broader category is headed, and an opportunity for brands to differentiate themselves through manufacturing transparency and formulation precision rather than treating regulation as an obstacle.
"[Placeholder quote, please edit or replace]: 'This will not be the last state to act. The brands that come out ahead are the ones who treated precise, adjustable dosing as table stakes long before it was required,'" said Tolisano.
Burma Brewing continues to work with functional beverage brands across the country as a co-manufacturing partner for kratom, kava, kanna, and mushroom-based RTD products.
Note: this release describes Burma Brewing's manufacturing capability to formulate toward specific compound ratios. It does not certify that any particular finished product complies with Florida's rule; compliance depends on the final formulation of each brand's product and should be confirmed independently before launch or sale.
About Burma Brewing Burma Brewing is a Fort Myers, Florida-based co-manufacturer of ready-to-drink functional beverages featuring active ingredients such as kratom, kava, kanna, and mushrooms. The company partners with emerging and established brands to bring functional beverages to market, offering low minimum order quantities and production capacity built for a fast-evolving regulatory and consumer landscape.
Media Contact: Jason Croxford CGO Burma Brewing
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