Koi CBD is a bit of a conundrum. On one hand, they have been around for quite a while and appear to be very popular. While being around for 6+ years in the CBD doesn’t guarantee quality, it is definitely a victory. And each month over 10,000 people search for their products. Which means they have repeat customers. Another good sign. On the other hand, though, they have had some legal issues with the FDA dating back to the 2019. Which is never something you want to see. So which are they? The company that makes a quality CBD product that tens of thousands of people love? Or a company with questionable ethics that is trying to capitalize on the CBD craze? Let’s dig in and find out.
A quick company overview
Founded in 2015, Koi CBD is a CBD company based in Norwalk, California. They promise high-quality CBD products that are safe and ensure full traceability. They state their focus is on making a reliable and consistent CBD product that consumers can trust.
Koi CBD has been featured in publications like Forbes and are members of various CBD organizations like the California Hemp Council, the US Hemp Roundtable, and the Hemp Industries Association.
What products do they make?
Koi CBD has a large selection of products for people and pets, with all their products being broad-spectrum CBD. This means that small traces of all the compounds in the hemp plant, except for THC. Broad-spectrum products have a more balanced effect and could have added benefits because of the effects of the other compounds along with CBD.
Their products include:
- Balms and gels
- Oils
Koi Naturals Hemp Extract CBD Tincture - Skincare products
- Gummies
Koi Balance Anytime Gummies - Vape juice
- Bath products
- Pet chews and oil sprays
- Flowers
Their products come in a variety of CBD strengths and flavors. Koi CBD claims their gummies are “America’s Best Tasting Gummies,” which sets expectations quite high. And is kind of hard to dispute since that’s personal preference. They also have a wide price range, allowing for people with varying budgets.
What is the quality of Koi CBD’s products?
Koi CBD seems to deliver the quality of products they promise. Their website offers extensive information on each product’s ingredients, listed under the product information on their online shop. Their manufacturing plant is FDA-certified compliant with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
Koi CBD uses the CO2 extraction method to process the CBD. This method uses no solvents, which means there won’t be any traces of harmful chemicals in the final product.
Co-founder Brett Brunner explains in Cannabis and Tech Today that, “…What sets us apart from a lot of other CBD companies is our whole-plant extraction method. For us, it’s not just about extracting CBD – we purify the whole product removing THC, CO2, chlorophyll, amino acids, and carbohydrates to develop the best tasting products in the industry.”
Also Read: Do CBD Gummies Get You High? Well, It Depends…
Do they make safe products?
Brunner claims that every batch is processed using a single vessel in order to minimize human error and cross contamination. Every product is tested by a third-party laboratory to ensure that their products contain the correct amount of CBD and are free of contaminants.
A positive sign is that Koi CBD provides easily accessible certificates of analysis on their website, which provide the results of third-party testing for their products. However, some COA’s show slightly different results on the same product. Some products detect higher CBD potency than mentioned on the label. Some COAs don’t show the limit of quantification – the test for THC. This makes it unclear whether there are any traces of THC in certain products. Although their oils and balms had comprehensive COAs and looked good.
It must be noted that there is a current lawsuit against Koi CBD by an individual who claims to have lost a job due to failed drug tests after using Koi CBD products. As Koi CBD reports having no THC, it should not appear in drug tests.
What our experts say about Koi CBD
“Koi CBD debuted in 2015 and has faced a series of legal issues since. In 2019, the brand faced a class action lawsuit for fraud as customers were not made aware of the fact that Koi CBD products were illegal in the US because they advertised and labelled them as dietary supplements. Another lawsuit was filed when a customer failed her drug test and lost her job after taking Koi CBD product. The company has also received a warning letter from FDA in 2019 for making disease claims. As you can see, all their claims were around marketing, not the quality of their product.” – Dr. Neil Shah
Where do they source their CBD?
Koi CBD sources their CBD from organic hemp farms in Kentucky, Colorado, and Oklahoma.
What is their brand ethos?
Koi CBD’s brand ethos is all about quality and integrity. Koi want their product to speak for itself and provide as much information to make their consumer feel confident and safe in their purchase.
They hope to be the “remedy for misunderstanding and misinformation.” According to their website, they believe that there is a serious lack of oversight when it comes to regulating and testing the hundreds of CBD products on the market, and claim to go the extra mile to hold themselves accountable, more than a regulating body could. And they pride themselves on being able to show complete traceability and lab results from multiple third-party testing facilities.
What are people on the web saying about them?
Koi’s review rating on their website is high, with a rating of 4.8 stars, from 9353 Reviews.
One reviewer, Angela, W. said, “The feeling of the CBD Gel Roll-On is excellent for a Quick relief and the Best ever!! I use Koi CBD products only for a Successful pain relief.” And if we’re being honest, that review sounds a little more promotional than real. Not that that’s necessarily Koi’s fault, though.
Kelly, M. said, “My dog loved the soft chews, and I stuck to the recommended dose of no more than 3 or 4 a day…she always wanted more. I could tell that they allowed her to have more movement, to be more active, as a result of the medicine in the chews. Thanks so much for such a great product!! AGAIN!!!”
Reviews on Reddit are also mostly positive, with customers being satisfied with their products.
The Vapor Vanity review was also quite positive saying that they “feel comfortable recommending Koi CBD products without reservation.” They also referred to Koi as a “serious luxury brand experience.” We’re not sure we would agree!
So would we recommend Koi CBD to a friend?
Well, it’s complicated. If someone asked us if they should try Koi CBD, we would likely steer them to another brand. But not because of the FDA warning letters they’ve received. It has to do with the slight discrepancies in their COAs. Having said that, if you are already loving Koi CBD products, we wouldn’t stop you from continuing to take them. Koi CBD is generally a reputable company that offers a wide range of products. For the most part, their products seem to be legitimate and safe to use. However, some inconsistencies with their COAs are the one thing that give us a little pause.
Read our other CBD brand reviews:
Lord Jones CBD
Papa & Barkley CBD
Charlotte’s Web CBD
Martha Stewart CBD
Curaleaf Hemp CBD
Diamond CBD
Green Gorilla CBD
Nordic Oil CBD
The Greenest is a collective of doctors, pharmacists, dietitians, veterinarians, ex-and-current budtenders, medicinal mushroom and adaptogen experts — as well as CBD and hemp experts. The Greenest was launched to help those curious about the intersection of health, wellness and how we can all live better. We want to answer (in laymen’s terms) all the questions you have around living a better life.
