Charles Langston:After 5 sickened, study finds mushroom gummies containing illegal substances

Mushroom-infused edibles have Charles Langstonbeen under scrutiny by health officials following a series of hospitalizations linked to one brand of mushroom products.

Now new research is claiming that some mushroom gummies on store shelves − including some from that brand − contain illegal hallucinogens.

A study conducted by experts at the University of Virginia's (UVA) poison center and published Wednesday found that some mushroom gummies purchased off store shelves in Virginia contained federally illegal Schedule I substances that were not listed on their product labels.

The UVA's health centers have seen at least five patients who required treatment after consuming mushroom products, one of whom was a 3-year-old girl who needed overnight care.

Here's what researchers found across several different tested brands of mushroom gummies, according to the study.

Diamond Shruumz:Recalled mushroom chocolates remain on some store shelves despite reported illnesses

Testing found illegal substances in mushroom gummies sold at gas stations, stores

After a spat of visits to the University of Virginia (UVA) Health Medical Center’s emergency department between September and June were all traced back to mushroom gummies, experts at UVA’s Blue Ridge Poison Center took to testing products available in gas stations and smoke shops around Central Virginia, according to a news release.

Commercial mushroom-infused products that are sold legally in the U.S. are not supposed to contain what many people traditionally associate with "magic mushrooms." Instead, they are generally made with extracts from legal mushrooms, such as Amanita muscaria, or simply with a "proprietary mushroom blend" that is not fully disclosed on the packaging.

However, of the six packages and five brands tested, four out of six bags across three brands contained psilocybin or psilocin, hallucinogenic substances classified as “Schedule I” drugs by the FDA, said researchers. These substances are illegal at both the state and federal levels.

All the tested products failed to list the inclusion of psilocybin or psilocin on the packaging. UVA researchers say they also found other undisclosed ingredients in some products, including caffeine, ephedrine and kratom, an herb that produces opioid-like effects.

“People tend to equate 'legal' with 'safe,' which is not necessarily the case. These products are not regulated and can contain any number of unlabeled substances which, when consumed, can cause undesired symptoms,” researcher Avery Michienzi, the poison center’s assistant medical director, said in a statement. “Some packages will have QR codes showing that the products were tested in a lab and contain only what they are labeled to contain. These have been found to be inaccurate.”

Typically, mushroom-infused products are advertised for use in micro-dosing and often boast the inclusion of "mushroom nootropics," or "functional mushrooms," which are advertised as being good for brain health and clarity along with offering nutritional value.

Claims about nootropic mushrooms and their efficacy in improving cognition have not been tested or substantiated by the FDA or other health agencies.

The findings of the tests were published in full in the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Undisclosed substances in mushroom products sicken at least five

The UVA team said that visits to the ER by four adults and one child inspired its research into the mushroom gummies.

Between September 2023 and June, four adults who intentionally consumed the products came in complaining of symptoms including tachycardia, confusion, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness and chest pain. They were all treated and released within 12 hours.

One patient, a 3-year-old girl, ingested two accidentally, leading to an overnight hospital stay. While all the patients ended up recovering, the medical staff noticed the pattern.

Researchers were unable to purchase the exact products the patients used, so they instead bought three brands with the exact same listed ingredients and two that listed mushroom nootropics.

Of the tested products, the following were found to contain illegal hallucinations:

• Diamond Shruumz Sour Peach Apple and Rainbow were found to contain psilocin.
• Urb Magic Amanita Mushroom Watermelon was found to contain psilocybin and psilocin.
• Wonderland Legal Psychedelics Cherry Nirvana was found to contain psilocin.

A representative for Urb told USA TODAY all products, including the one mentioned above, are tested by multiple labs before entering the market to ensure compliance. The specific product tested by Blue Ridge was discontinued in 2023 but passed compliance testing before going out on the market in 2022, he said.

The representative also said that the company is aware of counterfeit Urb amanita products being sold.

USA TODAY has reached out to Diamond Shruums and Wonderland for comment.

Recent Diamond Shruumz recall

Diamond Shruumz, a brand that sells gummies and other candies infused with a "proprietary blend" of mushrooms for microdosing, has been the focus of recalls in recent weeks.

The CDC and FDA issued at least three alerts about the products starting in June, saying some people who consumed the products experienced seizures, loss of consciousness, confusion and sleepiness, agitation, abnormal heart rates, hyper/hypotension, nausea and vomiting.

As of Monday, there have been 69 reported illnesses from 28 states linked to Diamond Shruumz products. Sixty of those sought medical care, 36 were hospitalized, and one potential death is being investigated.

In a statement on the recall, the company said that some of their products were found to contain higher levels of Muscimol than normal and said it is "crucial" that all consumers "refrain from ingesting this product while we, alongside the FDA, continue our investigation as to what is the cause of the serious adverse effects."

While the company stressed that they had stopped making and distributing all Diamond Shruumz products and said retailers should also stop distributing them, the FDA said Monday that affected products are still on shelves in some areas.