FDA issues warning for mushroom chocolate bars linked to illnesses

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned consumers that certain mushroom-containing chocolate bars have been linked to illnesses in eight people across four states.

In an alert issued Friday, the FDA said it received reports of adverse reactions, including seizures, loss of consciousness, and vomiting, in individuals who consumed Diamond Shruumz Microdosing Chocolate Bars. The illnesses occurred in Arizona, Indiana, Nevada, and Pennsylvania, with six people requiring hospitalization, according to the agency. No deaths have been reported.

“This product may appeal to children and teenagers as it is marketed as a candy,” the FDA said in its advisory alert. “Parents and caregivers should consider discussing the information in this advisory with their children and take extra care to avoid this product being consumed by younger people.”

The chocolate bars, which are marketed as containing a “proprietary blend of nootropic and functional mushrooms,” USA Today reported, can be purchased online and at retailers nationwide that sell products containing hemp-derived CBD or delta-8 THC. The full list of retailers carrying the product is unknown, the FDA said.

The FDA is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, America’s Poison Centers, and state and local partners to investigate the illnesses and determine the cause. The agency advised consumers not to purchase or eat any flavor of the chocolate bars while the investigation is ongoing.

The FDA advised consumers to throw away any Diamond Shruumz chocolate bars they may have and to refrain from eating them. Retailers are instructed to stop selling the product and hold it securely until further instructions are provided on returns or disposal.

Those who become ill after consuming the chocolate bars should contact their health care provider and/or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, the agency said. Health care providers are asked to report illnesses to the local health department and/or Poison Control.

The FDA said it will update the advisory as more information becomes available and is considering next steps as part of the “ongoing” investigation. The agency provided links for reporting adverse events and complaints, as well as food safety resources for shippers and carriers during an outbreak.