The Diamond Shruumz Recall: What Muscimol Edibles Taught Buyers

In 2024, "mushroom" chocolate bars, cones and gummies sold under the Diamond Shruumz brand were linked to 180 illnesses, 73 hospitalisations and 3 potentially associated deaths across 34 US states. FDA testing found muscimol, the main active compound in Amanita muscaria, in many of the products, alongside other undeclared substances. The case shows why "natural", "legal" or "microdose" on a label tells a buyer almost nothing about what a product contains.

This page used to offer "safe ethical use guidance". We have replaced it with the case study that best explains why such guidance cannot be written for these products.

What happened with Diamond Shruumz?

The products were marketed as mushroom edibles. In June 2024 the FDA began investigating reports of people who became seriously ill after eating them, and the company recalled every flavour on 27 June 2024 (FDA, Investigation of Illnesses: Diamond Shruumz-Brand Products, 2024).

By the FDA's final update in November 2024, the count stood at 180 illnesses, 73 hospitalisations and 3 potentially associated deaths in 34 states. Reported symptoms included seizures, loss of consciousness, confusion, sleepiness, agitation, abnormal heart rates, blood-pressure changes, nausea and vomiting.

What did testing find inside the products?

The FDA's laboratory results showed that the products were not what their packaging suggested. Samples contained a changing mixture of substances:

• Muscimol, found in 9 of 22 chocolate bars and 5 of 10 cones tested.
• Psilocin, a controlled substance, and acetylpsilocin, a related synthetic compound.
• Pregabalin, a prescription medicine, in some bars, cones and gummies.
• Kavalactones from the kava plant, in most samples.

No two product types had the same profile. A buyer had no way to know which combination, or how much of each, a particular bar contained. Several of these substances also act on the nervous system in ways that add together, which the CDC warns makes combinations "stronger and more unpredictable" than one drug alone (CDC, Polysubstance Use Facts).

What did regulators say about Amanita afterwards?

In September 2024 the FDA completed a scientific memorandum reviewing more than 600 publications. It concluded that Amanita muscaria and its constituents, including muscimol and ibotenic acid, are not generally recognised as safe for use in food (FDA Scientific Memorandum, September 2024).

In December 2024 the FDA issued a public alert that referred directly to the Diamond Shruumz investigation. It stated that Amanita muscaria and its constituents are "not authorized for use as ingredients in conventional food" and advised people to avoid eating foods that contain them (FDA Constituent Update, 18 December 2024). Our article on what "for decorative use only" reflects explains how this shapes the way specimens are sold.

What are the lessons for buyers?

The case turns several common marketing claims into warning signs.

• "Legal" is not "safe". The products were sold openly, yet they sent dozens of people to hospital.
• "Natural" says nothing about contents. The bars contained a prescription drug and synthetic compounds.
• A label is only a claim. Without independent laboratory testing, nobody can check it. Our guide on what a certificate of analysis can and can't tell you explains what real testing looks like.
• Edible formats hide the dose. Sweets are easy to over-eat and attractive to children.
• Serious illness can follow even when the label looks professional.

An ethical approach, for sellers and buyers alike, starts with not presenting a toxic mushroom or its extracts as food, candy or a wellness supplement. The products on this site are sold as dried specimens for display and study, not for consumption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Diamond Shruumz recall?

A June 2024 US recall of mushroom-branded chocolate bars, cones and gummies linked to 180 illnesses, 73 hospitalisations and 3 potentially associated deaths.

Did the products contain Amanita muscaria compounds?

FDA testing found muscimol, the main active compound of Amanita muscaria, in many chocolate bars and cones, together with other undeclared substances.

Why were people so ill?

The products held unpredictable mixtures of nervous-system-active substances, including a prescription drug. Combined effects can be stronger than any one substance.

Are Amanita muscaria edibles legal?

In the US, the FDA says Amanita muscaria and its constituents are not authorised as ingredients in conventional food. Other countries have their own rules, so check local law.

How can I tell if a mushroom product is safe?

You cannot tell from the label. Independent laboratory testing is the minimum, and even then Amanita muscaria is not considered safe to eat.

This article is educational content, not medical or legal advice. Amanita muscaria is toxic and is not sold for ingestion. In an emergency, contact the services listed above.