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FDA issues warning over accidental THC ingestion by children

Home » FDA issues warning over accidental THC ingestion by children

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning that accidental ingestion of THC products by children can lead to serious adverse events.

Some edible THC products in the US are being designed to mimic the image of commonly consumed foods. Using similar brand names, colours and logos on packaging, “copycat” cannabis edibles can easily be mistaken for common foods by children.

With the global cannabis-infused edibles market projected to reach USD$9.03bn (~£7.29bn) by 2026 according to Research and Markets, many brands are selling the likes of THC-infused gummies, drinks and candies.

The FDA has confirmed it received over 100 adverse event reports related to children and adults who consumed edible products containing THC from January 2021 to April, 2022. 

Read more: The problem with “copycat” cannabis edibles

The body has warned consumers that these incidents have caused some to experience adverse events such as hallucinations, increased heart rate and vomiting, with a number requiring medical intervention or hospital admission.

The FDA stated: “Some manufacturers are packaging and labeling edible products containing THC to look like popular brands of commonly consumed foods, such as breakfast cereal, candy, and cookies. These products appeal to children and may be easily mistaken for popular, well-recognised foods.

“The FDA is actively working with federal and state partners to further address the concerns related to these products and monitoring the market for adverse events, product complaints, and other emerging cannabis-derived products of potential concern.”

Read more: Over a third of US THC products too strong for legal sale

A recent study carried out by the NYU School of Global Public Health, and published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, found that out of the 267 edibles revised in the study, 8 per cent closely resembled 13 different popular snack products, consisting of candies or sweet snacks and one salty snack.

It also found that eight out of 13 packages used the exact brand or product name of popular snack products. Five used names that were similar to popular snack products such as “Stoner Patch Dummies” instead of “Sour Patch Kids”, and seven of the packages used the same cartoon or brand character as the original product.

The study authors warned that this problem should be a major concern for the cannabis industry, and that if these products are not stored properly, children can accidentally ingest them.

The FDA has advised consumers to call emergency services for medical help in the event of an adverse reaction and to ensure products are kept in a safe place out of the reach of children. It has also recommended a local poison centre be called, should a product be ingested by a child.

The FDA stated: “Health care professionals, patients and consumers are encouraged to report complaints and cases of exposure and adverse events to the FDA’s MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.”

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