With names like Trips Ahoy, Slizzles, and Cheetos Flamin’ hot and similar packaging designed to copy their non-intoxicating related product, no wonder the Federal Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission are issuing warnings to consumers and to the companies that manufacture them.
This week, the FDA and the FTC issued warning letters to five companies for selling food items containing Delta-8 THC that mimic chips, candies and snacks from popular national brands.
Delta-8 THC (or delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol) is a naturally occurring chemical compound, called a cannabinoid, that’s found in traces in hemp and cannabis (marijuana) plants. Delta-8 produces a fuzzy, euphoric high that’s said to be similar to that from marijuana, but milder.
However, the Delta-8 THC you can buy is made in labs with cannabidiol (CBD) from hemp plants along with several chemicals. It’s much more potent than the delta-8 found in nature.
In both Missouri and Kansas, you can legally buy products like gummies, vapes, cartridges, and snacks. The popularity of products that contain delta-8 is on the rise, and you can find them everywhere, from boutique weed dispensaries to convenience store shelves.
Copycat food products containing delta-8 THC are particularly concerning to the FDA as they are extremely easy to purchase and are often available to youth. In addition, packaging that is almost indistinguishable from many popular snacks can be confusing for consumers.
Several of the companies warned today illegally sell copycat food products containing delta-8 THC, including chips, cookies, gummies or other snacks that mimic well-known snack food brands by using similar brand names, logos, or pictures on packaging that consumers, especially children, may confuse with traditional foods.
“Companies that market and sell edible THC products that are easily mistaken for snacks and candy are not only acting illegally, but they are also putting the health of young children at risk,” said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Those that prioritize profits in front of children’s safety are at serious risk of legal action.”
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, tremor, anxiety, dizziness, confusion, and loss of consciousness.
The FDA is also concerned about the processes used to synthesize delta-8 THC, as impurities or variations in the composition process can result in products that may be harmful or have unpredictable effects on consumers.
The FDA and FTC warning letters were issued to: Hippy Mood, Earthly Hemps, Shamrockshrooms.com, Mary Janes Bakery Co. LLC, and Life Leaf Medical CBD Center.
