Magically suspicious: why are thousands claiming sickness after eating Lucky Charms?

The FDA is investigating as thousands complain of illness they say is linked to Lucky Charms. Photograph: Gene J Puskar/AP

They may be magically delicious, but this week Lucky Charms are in the spotlight for a very different reason.

According to a mountain of consumer claims, the cereal is causing an array of gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea and diarrhea. The US Food and Drug Administration says it has received “hundreds” of complaints about the cereal this year. The food safety site iwaspoisoned.com, which lets consumers warn others when they believe a product has sickened them, paints an even more alarming picture, citing 4,500 reports of illness.