Mushroom gummies recalled Australia-wide after customers hospitalised with ‘disturbing hallucinations’ | Health

People have been hospitalized across Australia with symptoms including “disturbing” hallucinations, dizziness and involuntary twitches after ingesting mushroom gums made from Byron Bay business.

A South Australian teenager was found unresponsive earlier this month after eating several of Uncle Toad’s mushroom gums, the state’s health department said Thursday. He was treated and has since recovered.

New South Wales Health had earlier issued a warning on Wednesday evening against chewing gum.

Since April, at least five people have been hospitalized in New South Wales after experiencing “unexpected toxicity” after consuming cordyceps and lion’s mane flavours.

Victoria’s health department issued similar warning on Thursdayconfirming that there have been “several” hospitalizations linked to gum consumption in Victoria and interstates.

Symptoms include seizure-like activity and involuntary twitching, disturbing hallucinations, restlessness, dizziness, loss of consciousness, rapid heart rate, nausea and vomiting, NSW Hello said.

“Investigations are ongoing into the contents of these products,” NSW Poisons Information Center medical director Dr Darren Roberts said.

“We strongly advise people not to consume these products. If you have these products, dispose of them safely away from children and pets to avoid accidental consumption.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant urged people to take the warnings seriously and said the ongoing investigation was “quite complex”.

“We don’t know the substances, but the hypothesis is that there is some substance in the product that is causing these signs of toxicity,” she said.

She said the five patients had “myriad symptoms” but the common factor was chewing gum.

Dr Kimberley Humphrey, South Australia’s medical consultant for public health, said “the reported effects of these gums are worrying”.

Victoria’s Department of Health said people had become ill after consuming “even a small amount of these products”. “Investigations are underway to try to determine what is in these products that may be making people sick,” the statement said.

The gums have been recalled across Australia by Oz Brands “due to the presence of unapproved new food ingredients” which may cause adverse symptoms if consumed, Food Standards Australia, New Zealand said.

“Consumers should not eat this product,” the recall notice said. “Consumers should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. All users concerned about their health should seek medical advice.

The gum’s packaging encourages customers to “experience the multiverse”, claiming they are “infused with the best hemp on earth” at “1000mg per serving” – equal to one gram.

The scent of lion’s mane claims to support “memory and focus,” while cordyceps boasts that it provides “natural energy and strength.”

As of Wednesday evening, the company’s website was taken down and its Facebook and TikTok accounts were deleted.

An archived version of Uncle Frog’s website says it is a Byron Bay-based business offering products featuring “a unique, trademarked blend of natural ingredients designed to deliver a better experience”.

“They are CBD, CBN and THC free and 100% legal in Australia,” the archived website reads.

For cordyceps gummies, consumption of “one gummy every 6-12 hours” is recommended.

In an email to Guardian Australia, Uncle Frog said it sources cordyceps from the US and “has many health benefits”, but “consuming the whole bag can … sometimes make people feel weird”.

The company said it has “permanently” stopped sales and is recalling its products nationwide.

Perth woman Laura Jones told the ABC that within an hour of taking the gum, she began experiencing disturbing symptoms.

“It was the weirdest thing I’ve ever experienced,” she said, thinking the gum would ease her anxiety. “I felt really out of my body and lost my short-term memory. It was a sense of impending doom…

“I honestly felt like I was going to die. I thought, “What will happen to the children?”

Cordyceps is a type of mushroom with hundreds of species. Although traditionally used in Chinese medicine and more recently by wellness brands, the fungus can have drastic effects on insects, especially ants.

The fungi essentially turn them into zombies, taking over their minds and bodies and altering their behavior to spread spores. The concept inspired the hit video game franchise and TV series The Last of Us.

Lion’s mane mushrooms are also widely used in Asian countries as food and traditional medicine.

NSW Health said it was working with other states to investigate.

In 2022 the hallucinogenic spinach was withdrawn in Australia after crops were contaminated by nightshade.