FDA Issues Warning Letters for Delta-8 THC Foods
Credit: FDA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued warning letters to five companies for illegally selling copycat food products containing delta-8 THC and introducing them into the marketplace in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act).
The warning letters were issued to: Hippy Mood, Earthly Hemps, Shamrockshrooms.com, Mary Janes Bakery Co. LLC and Life Leaf Medical CBD Center. The FDA also issued a warning letter independently to the company GrowGod LLC for the same FD&C Act violations.
These warnings are part of the FDA and FTC’s ongoing joint effort to take action against companies selling illegal copycat food products containing delta-8 THC. In June 2023, the two agencies worked together to warn six other companies about selling edible food products containing delta-8 THC in packaging that could easily be confused for foods sold by popular national brands.
All six of those companies no longer have such products in stock.
“Inadequate or confusing labeling can result in children or unsuspecting adults consuming products with strong resemblance to popular snacks and candies that contain delta-8 THC without realizing it,” said FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner Namandjé Bumpus. “As accidental ingestion and/or overconsumption of delta-8 THC containing products could pose considerable health risks, the companies who sell these illegal products are demonstrating complete neglect for consumer safety.
“The FDA will continue to work to safeguard the health and safety of U.S. consumers by monitoring the marketplace and taking action when companies sell products that present a threat to public health.”
In June 2022, the FDA warned consumers about children accidentally ingesting food products containing delta-8 THC. From Jan. 1, 2021, to Dec. 31, 2023, the FDA received over 300 adverse event reports involving children and adults who consumed delta-8 THC products.
Nearly half of these reports involved hospitalization or emergency department visits, and approximately two-thirds of these adverse events followed ingestion of delta-8 THC-containing food products such as candy or brownies. Adverse events included, but were not limited to, hallucinations, vomiting, tremors, anxiety, dizziness, confusion, and loss of consciousness.
