Mushroom edibles have become increasingly popular in the United States in the 2020s.[3][7][6] They exist in a legal gray area, and may or may not be illegal depending on the ingredients.[6][4][2][1] One mushroom edibles brand, Diamond Shruumz, has been linked to hundreds of poisonings, including deaths.[4][8] The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers not to buy or eat mushroom edibles.[9][10] In addition, the FDA explicitly banned Amanita muscaria ingredients in food products in the United States in late 2024.[11][12][13]
Mushroom edibles started being sold in the United States in the 2020s and began to surge in popularity in 2023.[3][7][6] They include chocolate bars, gummies, and other food items.[1][6] The products are often sold at smokes or head shops, cannabis stores, and gas stations, as well as online.[3][2][7][20] Some of the most well-known brands in the United States include PolkaDot and Tre House.[1][7][20] The widespread market availability of Amanita muscaria products, as opposed to hallucinogenic mushrooms in general, is a relatively recent development.[6] This mushroom is often inappropriately conflated with psilocybin mushrooms, including in terms of safety as well as possible therapeutic benefits when used medically.[6] Mushroom edibles in general exist in a legal gray area in the United States and are unregulated.[4][2][3] There are often knockoff or counterfeit products that imitate major brands and may have completely different ingredients in spite of similar branding.[1][7][20]
Legality
Amanita muscaria and constituents like muscimol and ibotenic acid are not controlled substances in most of the United States and hence are considered legal.[6][4][2] However, other substances that may be in mushroom edibles, such as psilocybin and psilocin, are controlled substances and hence are illegal.[1] In December 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the Amanita muscaria constituents muscimol, ibotenic acid, and muscarine from food products including mushroom edibles.[11][12][13] However, it has been said that there are uncertainties about the ability of the FDA to enforce the rule, and that the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) might eventually become involved.[13] The FDA and other government agencies such as the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) have warned consumers not to buy or eat mushroom edibles.[9][10]
Poisonings
One mushroom edible brand, Diamond Shruumz, has been linked to hundreds of poisonings, including three deaths, and was recalled.[4][8] The FDA conducted an investigation and identified ingredients including muscimol, psilacetin, psilocybin, pregabalin, and kava constituents.[18][21][10] It is unclear exactly why the products caused poisonings, but it may have been related to toxic amounts of muscimol or to presence of ibotenic acid, a known neurotoxin and convulsant.[18][21][6] In general, Amanita muscaria constituents are known to be much more toxic and less safe than psilocybin mushroom ingredients.[6] There is also little quality control in terms of the dosing of mushroom edibles, and amounts of active ingredients may vary considerably even within the same product.[1] Children have also been poisoned by mushroom edibles, for instance after stealing chocolate bars from their parents.[20]
^ abcdefghijkLeas EC, Satybaldiyeva N, Kepner W, Yang KH, Harati RM, Corroon J, Rouffet M (September 2024). "Need for a Public Health Response to the Unregulated Sales of Amanita muscaria Mushrooms". Am J Prev Med. 67 (3): 458–463. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2024.05.006. PMID38864780.
^Pepe M, Hesami M, de la Cerda KA, Perreault ML, Hsiang T, Jones AM (December 2023). "A journey with psychedelic mushrooms: From historical relevance to biology, cultivation, medicinal uses, biotechnology, and beyond". Biotechnol Adv. 69: 108247. doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108247. PMID37659744.
^Rivera-Illanes D, Recabarren-Gajardo G (September 2024). "Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Muscimol". ACS Chem Neurosci. 15 (18): 3257–3269. doi:10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00304. PMID39254100.
^ abcdeSemley, John (12 June 2023). "Cartoon packaging and an 'inconsolable' high: when magic mushroom chocolate gets into the wrong hands". the Guardian. Retrieved 2 February 2025. The brand is actually Polkadot Bar. And they've become increasingly common in the psychedelic grey market. As more states open up laws around cannabis, Polkadot Bars and a range of other magic mushroom containing-candies – including One-Up Bars, Holy Grail Bars, Magic Bars and Mushie Gummies – have become common, under-the-counter offerings in cannabis boutiques, smoke shops and corner bodegas. The bars come in a range of flavours, from Ferrero Rocher, Twix and Fruity Pebbles to matcha, blueberry acai and "strawnana".
