Hallucinogens Found in ‘Brain Gummies’ After 5 People Fall Ill

After five people got sick — including a three-year-old child — following the consumption of “brain health” gummies, researchers have found that these products may contain illegal hallucinogens.

Researchers are warning that mushroom supplements that claim to promote brain health and contain only legal ingredients may not be what they seem after discovering that several brands contain undisclosed psilocybin or psilocin — illegal hallucinogens present in psychedelic mushrooms.

Researchers with UVA Blue Ridge Poison Center began testing different brands of “brain health” gummies after five different individuals presented at UVA Health Medical Center’s emergency department between September and June.

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The individuals had all gotten sick after taking these supplements, including a three-year-old child who’d taken two gummies accidentally.

While the researchers were not able to purchase and test the exact brands of mushroom gummies the patients had consumed, they bought three brands with the same ingredients and two other brands that claimed to contain “mushroom nootropics” from gas stations and smoke shops in Central Virginia. All five products' labels claimed to contain the legal Amanita muscaria mushroom or a proprietary mushroom blend.

But despite no indication on the label, three out of the five brands were found to contain psilocybin or psilocin, which are illegal, psychedelic substances classified as “Schedule I” drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and considered to be dangerous and have high potential for abuse.

The researchers also found that some of the products tested contained additional undisclosed and potentially harmful ingredients, including caffeine, ephedrine, and kratom, an herb that produces opioid-like effects and carries the risk of addiction.

“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,” said researcher Avery Michienzi, DO, the poison center’s assistant medical director, 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.”

While these products were found in Central Virginia specifically, the researchers warn that the findings suggest there is a risk to people all across the country. They advise that products sold at gas stations and smoke shops may contain any number of unlabeled ingredients and are not necessarily safe for consumption despite claims on their packaging.

The researchers are urging caution among consumers and doctors, who they say should be on the lookout for patients — particularly children — who may have become sick after consuming gummies of this kind, especially as these substances may not be detected by typical hospital drug screens.

Individuals who’ve unknowingly consumed products with psilocybin or psilocin may experience symptoms including hallucinations, racing heartbeat, upset stomach, and an altered mental state.

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