NSW Health is urging the community not to eat Uncle Frog's Mushroom Gummies after a spate of hospitalisations in the state.
The recall stems from the presence of unapproved ingredients including cordyceps and lion's mane in a batch, with the products marketed as anti-anxiety.
A range of symptoms, including anxiety, disturbing hallucinations, nausea and a racing pulse, have been attributed to the products, which until now were available online from overseas distributors.
Dr Ian Musgrave, a Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology at the University of Adelaide, said that despite the recall, both lion's mane fungus and cordyceps are fungi used in traditional Chinese medicine and are listed on the TGA's Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.
He mentioned that the Uncle Frogs website, and associated Facebook page, have vanished, so finding out what was purportedly in them is not possible.
"I am working off screen shots of the packets, but the ABC story reports the possibility of THC in the gummies, while the company claims there is no THC in the gummies from independent testing" Musgrave added.
Despite stating there is 'broad-spectrum hemp infusion' on the packets, the possibility that synthetic cannabinoids are present cannot be excluded at this stage.
"It is also possible that, instead of the stated fungal species, other fungi have been inadvertently collected/substituted, which could have these effects," he said.
"Until proper analysis is conducted, it is not possible to say what has happened."
RMIT University's Professor of Chemistry, Oliver Jones, who conducts research in environmental toxicology, said, "I think the important message at this stage is that if you have bought these items, throw them away".
"If you have eaten these products, and feel ill, seek medical advice."
Jones added that supplements sold on the internet, especially from overseas, may not have been tested to the same Australian standards expected, and "we may not know where they came from, what ingredients they contain, or if they even do what they claim to".
"In a worst-case scenario, as we have seen today, they can even be potentially dangerous.
"It is also worth remembering that just because something is 'natural' does not automatically mean it is good for you. JG
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