CNN
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration believes it is currently investigating a “possibly related death” that may be linked to Diamond Shruumz microdosing products.
The products have been linked to 48 illnesses in 24 states, the FDA announced on Tuesday. All but two of those affected sought medical attention and 27 were hospitalized.
Prophet Premium Blends issued a recall of Diamond Shruumz products last week, citing muscimol, a chemical found in fly agaric mushrooms, as a possible cause of the reported symptoms. The FDA is reviewing this information, and according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the cause of the reported illnesses is unknown.
The company explains in a statement on the Diamond Shruumz website: “At Prophet Premium Blends, the health and safety of our consumers is our top priority. We have recently been notified of incidents involving our Diamond Shruumz product. Because consumers became ill after eating the entire chocolate bar and some products contained higher levels of muscimol, than normal, it is critical that all of our consumers refrain from taking this product while we continue our investigation with the FDA into the cause of the serious side effects.”
The company did not respond to CNN’s request for further comment.
According to the FDA, reported symptoms included seizures, involuntary muscle contractions, loss of consciousness, confusion, vomiting and abnormal heartbeat.
The FDA and CDC work with partners such as U.S. poison control centers to evaluate these illnesses.
The FDA is testing samples of Diamond Shruumz products and says it has found synthetic psychedelic substances, including the hallucinogen psilacetin, in the brand’s Dark Chocolate Bar and Birthday Cake Chocolate Bar varieties.
According to the CDC, the compound is structurally similar to psilocybin, psilocin, dimethyltryptamine, and lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD. According to the European Drugs Agency, psilocybin and psilocin are the main hallucinogenic compounds in magic mushrooms.
“People using these substances may experience hallucinations, optical illusions, and other sensory changes,” the CDC said. “Some patients may experience side effects such as nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, agitation, dizziness, or tremors.”
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Further testing on a wider range of Diamond Shruumz products and evaluation of the results and their health effects are ongoing, the FDA said.
Diamond Shruumz-infused wafers, chocolate bars and gummy bears (micro and mega/extreme dose) were distributed nationwide through retail stores and mail order.
The CDC urges consumers not to “eat, sell, or serve any flavor of Diamond Shruumz branded candy bars, wafers, or gummy bears.”
Anyone who has symptoms after consuming a product should seek immediate medical attention or call the Poison Control Line at 1-800-222-1222. Adverse events may also be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch program.
