After receiving more than 100 reports of illness, the FDA is warning consumers that the copycat packaging of some edibles has led to accidental ingestion of THC. The edibles are packaged to look like candy and cereal such as Cap’n Crunch, Cocoa Pebbles, Cocoa Puffs, Froot Loops, Fruity Pebbles, Trix, Nerds Ropes, Starbursts, and Sour Patch Kids.
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What is Delta 8 THC?
Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as delta-8 THC, is a psychoactive substance found in small amounts in cannabis plants such as marijuana and hemp, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is similar to but milder than Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, Delta-9-THC, the main psychoactive compound found in marijuana that produces a “high.”
Because it does not naturally occur in significant amounts, additional chemicals are needed to synthetically convert other cannabinoids in hemp, like CBD, into delta-8 THC, according to the FDA. Sometimes “potentially unsafe household chemicals” are used in this process which add harmful by-products to the finished product.
Delta 8 products have not been approved by the FDA for safe use in any context.
Reports to Poison Control Centers, One Pediatric Death
On January 1, 2021, a delta-8 THC product code was added to the database for national poison control centers. Over the course of the next 14 months, the poison control centers received 2,362 reports of exposure to these products. Of those:
- 41 percent involved pediatric patients
- 40 percent were unintentional exposures
- 45 percent required medical evaluation
- 8 percent were admitted to critical care
- 1 pediatric case was coded with a medical outcome of death
Reports to the FDA
From January 2021 through April 24, 2022, the FDA received over 100 reports of adverse events among children and adults who consumed edible products containing THC. Some reported experiencing hallucinations, increased heart rate, and vomiting. Many required medical intervention or hospitalization, the agency said. “Seven of the reports specifically mention the edible product to be a copycat of popular foods, such as Cocoa Pebbles, Nerds Rope, Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, and Starburst.”
Experienced Food Safety Lawyers
The food safety lawyers at Pritzker Hageman represent people all over the country who have been sickened by contaminated food. You can reach us by calling 1-888-377-8900, sending a text to 612-261-0856, or by completing the form below. There is no obligation and you don’t pay us unless we win.