The FDA warns about edibles made from cereal and candy that appeal to children

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) again warned people to keep their edibles out of the reach of children, particularly those with sketchy, colorful packaging that may appeal to children.

On May 13, the FDA issued an alert warning against similar products that mimic candy, and more recently, children’s cereal.

Copycat products highlighted in the alert Cap’n Crunch, Cocoa Pebbles, Cocoa Puffs, Froot Loops, Fruity Pebbles, Nerds Ropes, Starbursts, Sour Patch Kids, and Trix, among others.

There are two reasons for not supporting such gray area cannabis products: the potential appeal to children on the one hand, and the ethical violation of the blatant ripping off of mainstream food companies’ intellectual property on the other. However, the FDA was mainly concerned about the physical symptoms that children might experience.

“The FDA is aware of several media reports describing children and adults who have inadvertently consumed generic edible products containing THC and experienced adverse events,” the organization wrote. “In addition, from January 2021 to April 24, 2022, the FDA received over 100 reports of adverse events associated with children and adults consuming THC-containing edible products.”

Symptoms to look out for include “hallucinations” and “vomiting.”

“Some people who ate these edible products have reportedly experienced adverse events such as hallucinations, increased heart rate and vomiting, and many have required medical treatment or hospitalization,” the alert said. “Seven of the reports specifically mention that the edible product is a copycat of popular foods like Cocoa Pebbles, Nerds Rope, Skittles, Sour Patch Kids and Starburst.”

Separating danger from myth

Both CBD and THC show promise in pediatrics for mental and physical disorders in controlled doses, such as: B. intractable epilepsy, but children’s small bodies usually cannot stand THC like that of an adult. If a small child (or pet) accidentally eats them, it can quickly become “a situation”. All adults have a responsibility to keep their edibles out of reach, and most do.

But sometimes the hysteria makes these warnings less credible. For children and adults, a “whiteout” can be a frightening experience, but “overdoses from marijuana alone are unlikely,” even the CDC concedes. Just in time for October 1st, we get our annual warning that cannabis-infused candy is rumored to be given out to children on Halloween, but sometimes these stories get debunked.

The FDA made three recommendations in the event a child consumes an edible:

• Call 9-1-1 or get medical help right away if you or someone in your care experiences any serious side effects from these products. Always keep these products in a safe place out of the reach of children.
• Call the local poison control center (1-800-222-1222) if a child has consumed these products. Don’t wait for symptoms to show up.
• Contact your doctor if you or someone in your care has recently used these products and you have any health concerns.

The FDA also gave three ways to file a complaint in an obscure warning to people with nosy neighbors who live in fear of people dropping the dime and calling Child Protection Services. It is unclear whether the means of making complaints are intended for the parents themselves or for others.

“Healthcare 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,” the alert reads.

Last year over 100 people dialed in.

Counterfeit products are a problem, and not just for children

As it turns out, mainstream food companies want essentially the same thing, but mostly for a different reason. On April 27, a group of a dozen major food companies called on Congress to crack down on the growing number of THC-infused copycats.

“Children are increasingly threatened by the unscrupulous use of famous brand logos, characters, trademarks and trade dress on THC-infused edible products. While cannabis (and adventitious amounts of THC) may be legal in some states, the use of these famous brands, clearly without the consent of the brand owners, on food has created serious health and safety risks for consumers, especially children, who are unaware of the difference between these brands’ genuine products and the counterfeit THC products that monetize the brand’s fame,” the companies wrote in the letter.

Parents with young children and teenagers are advised to check that their edibles are out of the reach of children.