The FDA is investigating a death possibly linked to recalled mushroom-containing chocolates and gummies


The Food and Drug Administration is investigating a death that may be linked to chocolate or Diamond Shroomz brand sweets containing mushrooms.

As of Monday, the candy had caused 48 illnesses and led to 27 hospitalizations, according to the agency.

Prophet Premium Blends of Santa Ana, California, which manufactures the products, began a nationwide recall of Diamond Shroomz-brand chocolate bars, cones and gummies on Thursday. The recall was announced Friday in a statement published on the FDA website.

The FDA has launched an investigation into these illnesses in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, poison control centers, and local agencies.

The FDA said people who became ill after eating the mushroom desserts experienced a variety of serious symptoms, including seizures, fainting, confusion, sleepiness, restlessness, abnormal heart rhythm, high or low blood pressure, nausea and vomiting.

Prophet Premium Blends did not immediately comment in response to inquiries.

In a statement on the Diamond Shroomz website, the company said that “it is important that all of our consumers avoid consuming this product while we, in collaboration with the FDA, continue to investigate the cause of the serious adverse effects.”

Twenty-four states have reported cases of illnesses linked to the products, though the scale of the outbreak may be even larger. Poison control centers across the country have received 82 reports of exposure to the candy so far.

According to Prophet Premium Blends, the recalled products contain a chemical called muscimol, which is found in certain mushrooms, and “may be a possible cause of the symptoms that were observed in ill individuals.”

The company said it received two complaints on May 27 stating that consumers became ill after eating an entire chocolate bar. The company said that after review, it found that the products contained “a higher than normal amount of muscicol.”

According to research published last month in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, muscimol can significantly alter mood, perception, cognition and behavior, and it can be fatal in high enough doses. The chemical slows down the central nervous system much like alcohol or benzodiazepines, and its effects can include dizziness, nausea, fatigue, a feeling of weightlessness, visual and auditory hypersensitivity, location distortion, loss of time awareness and hallucinations.

The review says muscimol-containing products, such as gummies and vapes, have become more available in the past few years. It calls for “a new regulatory approach” to such products.

Officials warned that customers who purchased Diamond Shrews chocolates or candies should throw them away immediately, as these items “may appeal to children and teens.”

Retailers were told to stop selling or distributing the products and “store the product in a safe place until additional instructions are provided on how to return or safely dispose of the product.”

Diamond Shroomz describes its products as designed for microdosing, though the company's website states they do not contain psychedelic substances. (The candy does not contain psilocybin.)

Several toxicology experts told NBC News that the mushrooms listed as ingredients, such as lion's mane or ashwagandha, do not produce the effects the company claims, such as relaxation or euphoria.

The FDA has not approved muscimol as a food additive, and the chemical remains largely unregulated. It is not a federally controlled substance.

The C.D.C. warned health care providers last month that products with psychoactive ingredients are becoming more available in the U.S. and are often sold as gummy candies or chocolates. Such products may contain unknown or potentially harmful ingredients that have not been approved for use in food, the agency said.

Improvement (July 2, 2024, 9:55 a.m. ET): A previous version of this article contained incorrect information about the origin of the recall. The manufacturer voluntarily recalled the products in an announcement published by the FDA; the FDA did not issue the recall.

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