Legality does not always equate to safety, researchers warn, as a recent investigation uncovered that several mushroom gummies, marketed for their brain-boosting benefits, contain harmful and illegal hallucinogens not disclosed on the label.
After reports that five individuals, including a 3-year-old, fell ill from consuming brain-boosting gummies, experts from the University of Virginia's Blue Ridge Poison Center investigated various brands sold at Central Virginia gas stations and smoke shops. Their tests revealed that three of these brands contained psilocybin or psilocin —substances classified as "Schedule I" drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These compounds have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, making them illegal under both federal and state laws.
All the tested products claimed to contain legal Amanita muscaria mushrooms or proprietary blends, but none mentioned psilocybin or psilocin. The researchers also found other undisclosed ingredients like caffeine, ephedrine, and kratom, an herb with opioid-like effects and addiction risks.
"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. 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," Avery Michienzi, DO, researcher and assistant medical director at UVA's Blue Ridge Poison Center, said in a news release.
The four adults got sick after intentionally consuming mushroom gummies and received emergency care between September and Nov. 20, while the child's case was an accidental ingestion. All were treated and released, though the child required an overnight stay.
Since the researchers could not buy the exact brands the patients consumed, they purchased three brands with similar ingredients and two others labeled as "mushroom nootropics," a term used for products claiming to boost cognitive function.
"While we anticipated that we might find some undisclosed ingredients, we were surprised to find psilocybin and psilocin knowing that they are scheduled drugs. The consumer should be given accurate information about what substances are included in these products," said Lindsay Bazydlo from UVA Health's advanced Toxicology Laboratory that conducted the tests.
Researchers now urge doctors to be vigilant for patients, particularly children, who get ill after consuming mushroom gummies, as standard hospital drug tests may not detect the substances found in them. Symptoms such as hallucinations, rapid heartbeat, upset stomach, and altered mental states may mimic the effects of marijuana, making diagnosis challenging.
