No recall, but a warning about eating
microdose candies:
More people have reported severe poisonings in an ongoing outbreak marked by people seizing and needing to be intubated after consuming microdose candies made by Diamond Shruumz, the Food and Drug Administration reported Tuesday.
There are now at least 12 reported cases across eight states. All 12 people were ill enough to seek medical care, and 10 needed to be hospitalized. The symptoms reported so far include seizures, central nervous system depression (loss of consciousness, confusion, sleepiness), agitation, abnormal heart rates, hyper/hypotension, nausea, and vomiting, the FDA reported.
In Tuesday's update, the FDA also expanded the products linked to the illnesses. In addition to all flavors of Diamond Shruumz's Microdosing Chocolate Bars, the agency's warning now covers all flavors of the brand's Infused Cones and Micro Dose and Macro Dose Gummies.
Where?
The candies are available nationwide. They are sold online—where they remain available for purchase as of Tuesday evening—and can also be found in various retail locations throughout the US, including smoke/vape shops and retailers that sell hemp-derived products.
The current tally of cases includes one from Alabama, four from Arizona, two from Indiana, one from Kentucky, one from Missouri, one from Nevada, one from Pennsylvania, and one from South Carolina.
What happened?
It remains unclear what exactly is in the candies and what could cause such severe toxicity. The company does not provide ingredient lists for its products on its website. The term "microdosing" typically suggests a small amount of psychedelic compound is present, and Diamond Shruumz markets its products as "trippy," "psychedelic," and "hallucinogenic." But lab reports posted on Diamond Shruumz's website indicate that its candies do not contain the notable mushroom-derived psychedelic compound, psilocybin.
I'm guessing there were some cost-cutting decisions made and a product substitution is causing health problems. Do not mess with mushrooms.
So why no recall? The FDA was only given recall powers in 2011 having previously relied on both corporations to do the right thing (seriously) or local health authorities to step in and embargo food. I've embargoed food before; it's fun (no).
But for this? These (I think) are in a legal gray area.
The FDA, along with America's Poison Centers and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is still investigating the cases and working to determine the cause. In a response to an inquiry from Ars, the FDA declined to comment on whether it is in contact with the company and if it is recommending a voluntary recall.