Magic Mushroom Chocolate Bars Contain Hazardous Ingredients, CDPH Warns

Mushroom Magic Blend chocolate bars contain illegal psychoactive substances, putting consumers at risk of injury, illness or death, the California Department of Public Health says.

Consumers are being warned not to eat PolkaDot brand Mushroom Magic Blend candy bars, which contain dangerous additives, the California Department of Public Health says.

CDPH and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department are investigating PolkaDot brand candy bars labeled with the unsafe food additive Amanita muscaria, a type of mushroom, CPDH said. Laboratory tests also found that the chocolate bars contained an additional synthetic psychoactive drug.

More than $3 million worth of chocolate bars from PolkaDot, a brand that produces microdosed edible mushrooms, were embargoed and voluntarily destroyed, CPDH said.

Although no illnesses have yet been reported, CDPH is concerned that people seeking psychedelic mushroom products for therapeutic benefits risk serious or life-threatening illnesses if they consume this product.

According to CDPH, candy bars can cause serious health problems due to unintentional misuse and overuse, as well as interactions with other medications and underlying health conditions. These products should not be eaten and may be especially dangerous for young children, who may mistake them for regular candy bars.

The manufacturer could face civil or criminal penalties pending additional investigations, CPDH said.

Which Mushroom Magic Blend chocolate bars have been recalled?

PolkaDot brand Mushroom Magic Blend chocolate bars pulled from stores weighed 2.1 ounces each and came in a variety of flavors. The following flavors have been tested in the laboratory and found to be adulterated:

Belgian milk chocolate with caramel and peanuts
Belgian milk chocolate of rich dark color.
Belgian milk chocolate Maui with coconut twist

These candy bars were sold to retailers, such as smoke shops, and online directly from the manufacturer, CDPH said. Spread throughout California and other states is likely.

What to do if you feel sick from eating chocolate bars?

Consumers experiencing any side effects after consuming these products should consult their physician. Anyone who finds these products on sale should call the CDPH Complaint Hotline at (800) 495-3232 or submit an electronic report here.

What did FDA testing find in microdosed edible mushrooms?

FDA investigations have found that mushroom-infused products are commonly marketed for microdose use and often include “mushroom nootropics” or “functional mushrooms,” which are promoted as beneficial for brain health and clarity, as well as providing nutritional benefits. The FDA or other health agencies have not reviewed these statements.

Commercial mushroom-infused products sold legally in the United States should not contain what many people traditionally associate with “magic mushrooms.” Instead, they are usually made from extracts of legal mushrooms, such as Amanita muscaria (which produces muscimol), or simply from a “proprietary mushroom blend” not fully stated on the packaging.

The results provided to the FDA showed that different compounds were present not only in different flavors of candy bars, but also in the same flavors. The agency noted that there may be variants in which compounds are present and in which combinations are used from product to product.

“Although these compounds individually have known effects when taken orally, there is less research on the interactions of these compounds when taken together,” the FDA said.

The FDA’s results are consistent with previous testing conducted by experts at the University of Virginia (UVA) Poison Center in July.

On June 7, the FDA issued an initial warning, saying that a “severe” illness linked to some mushroom chocolate bars had left several people in the hospital with health problems including seizures, vomiting and abnormal heart rates.

Where are mushroom candies sold?

The candies are sold nationwide online and in person at a variety of retail outlets, including smoke and vape shops, as well as retailers selling hemp-derived products including cannabidiol (CBD) or delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8 THC ).

USA TODAY contributed to this report.