California-Based Company Under FDA Investigation After Reports of Severe Illnesses
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating Diamond Shruumz, a California-based company that manufactures microdosing candies and gummies, following reports of severe illnesses and hospitalizations across eight states (FDA, 2023). The products in question include Microdosing Chocolate Bars, Infused Cones, and Micro Dose and Macro Dose Gummies. As of Monday, 12 illnesses and 10 hospitalizations have been reported in Alabama, Arizona, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina, with the last illness onset reported on June 9 (Mordowanec, 2023). The FDA is working with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), America’s poison centers, and state and local partners to determine the causes of the incidents.
5 Key Points
- Twelve illnesses and ten hospitalizations have been reported in eight states, with the last illness onset reported on June 9 (Mordowanec, 2023).
- Symptoms include seizures, central nervous system depression, agitation, abnormal heart rates, hyper/hypotension, nausea, and vomiting (FDA, 2023).
- The FDA is working with the CDC, poison centers, and state and local partners to determine the causes of the incidents (FDA, 2023).
- Consumers are advised to discard the products immediately, and retailers are instructed not to sell or distribute them pending further FDA instructions (FDA, 2023).
- Diamond Shruumz-brand products can be purchased through the company’s online wholesale store and in various retailers, including smoke/vape shops and hemp-derived products (Mordowanec, 2023).
Candy Warning: Severe Symptoms Reported
According to the FDA (2023), individuals who consumed Diamond Shruumz-brand products reported a range of severe symptoms, including seizures, central nervous system depression (loss of consciousness, confusion, sleepiness), agitation, abnormal heart rates, hyper/hypotension, nausea, and vomiting. The illnesses have been reported in Alabama, Arizona, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina (Mordowanec, 2023). Consumers who purchase these products are encouraged to discard them immediately, and parents and caregivers are advised to check if children or teenagers possess them, as the packaging may appeal to these demographics (FDA, 2023).
Ongoing Investigation and Precautionary Measures
The FDA is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), America’s poison centers, and state and local partners to investigate the causes of the reported illnesses (FDA, 2023). As a precaution, retailers with Diamond Shruumz-brand products in stock are instructed not to sell or distribute them to consumers, pending further instruction from the FDA. The agency is working to determine the cause of these illnesses and is considering appropriate next steps (FDA, personal communication, 2023). Updates to the advisory will be provided as they become available.
Microdosing and Its Potential Risks
Diamond Shruumz markets its products as “candy for the creative soul,” claiming that microdosing can lead to a more creative state of mind (Diamond Shruumz, n.d.). Microdosing refers to consuming a fraction of a regular dose of a psychedelic substance, rather than a total dose that would typically cause hallucinations or a “trip.” However, the lack of regulation and the current illegality of these substances make it difficult to ensure consistent and safe dosing. Studies conducted by Harvard Medical School (2022) and published in Nature (Szigeti et al., 2022) have found that the efficacy of microdosing is complicated to track, and the anecdotal benefits attributed to microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms may be primarily due to expectation rather than enhanced well-being, creativity, or cognitive function.
Ongoing Updates and FDA Response
Newsweek emailed the FDA and Diamond Shruumz for comment but has not received a response (Mordowanec, 2023). The FDA is working to determine the cause of these illnesses and is considering appropriate next steps. Updates to the advisory will be provided as they become available (FDA, personal communication, 2023). In the meantime, consumers are urged to exercise caution and discard any Diamond Shruumz-brand products they may have purchased. At the same time, retailers are instructed to refrain from selling or distributing these products until further notice from the FDA (FDA, 2023).
FAQ
Q. What products are involved in the FDA investigation?
A. The products under investigation include Diamond Shruumz-brand Microdosing Chocolate Bars, Infused Cones, and Micro Dose and Macro Dose Gummies (FDA, 2023).
Q. What symptoms have been reported by people who consumed these products?
A. Reported symptoms include seizures, central nervous system depression (loss of consciousness, confusion, sleepiness), agitation, abnormal heart rates, hyper/hypotension, nausea, and vomiting (FDA, 2023).
Q. How many illnesses and hospitalizations have been reported?
A. As of Monday, 12 illnesses and 10 hospitalizations have been reported across eight states (Mordowanec, 2023).
Q. What should consumers do if they have purchased Diamond Shruumz-brand products?
A. Consumers are advised to discard the products immediately. Parents and caregivers should also check if children or teenagers possess these products (FDA, 2023).
Q. What is microdosing, and what are its claimed benefits?
A. Microdosing refers to taking a fraction of a regular dose of a psychedelic substance. Proponents claim that micro-dosing can enhance daily life by benefiting creativity, mood, concentration, and productivity (Diamond Shruumz, n.d.). However, studies have found that the efficacy of microdosing is challenging to track, and the anecdotal benefits may be primarily due to expectations (Harvard Medical School, 2022; Szigeti et al., 2022).
Citations:
Diamond Shruumz. (n.d.). About us. https://diamondshruumz.com/about-us/
FDA. (2023, June 12). FDA investigates illnesses and hospitalizations linked to Diamond Shruumz-brand candies and gummies [Press release]. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/fda-investigates-illnesses-and-hospitalizations-linked-diamond-shruumz-brand-candies-and-gummies
Harvard Medical School. (2022, September 28). Microdosing: The new (and more scientific) psychedelic trend. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/microdosing-the-new-and-more-scientific-psychedelic-trend-202209282826
Mordowanec, N. (2023, June 12). Candy warning issued after people hospitalized. MSN. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/candy-warning-issued-after-people-hospitalized/ar-BB1o6aLX
Szigeti, B., Kartner, L., Blemings, A., Rosas, F., Feilding, A., Nutt, D. J., Carhart-Harris, R. L., & Erritzoe, D. (2022). Self-blinding citizen science to explore psychedelic microdosing. eLife, 11, e62878. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.62878
