Fly agaric poison: Health risks of "fruit gummies" containing muscimol – children are particularly at risk
What it's about:
There is currently an increase in the number of products on the market that resemble fruit gummies but contain the intoxicating fly agaric poison muscimol. These products are mainly available in online shops. However, there are also other sources of distribution, as an incident in Hesse in October 2024 illustrates: A young man was hospitalized with symptoms of poisoning after consuming a muscimol-containing product resembling gummy bears that he had purchased from a vending machine.
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) consulted German poison information centres regarding cases of poisoning associated with muscimol-containing products. Several cases were reported, some with significant health effects, including impaired consciousness up to coma, confusion and states of agitation. Those affected were adolescents and adults who had misused the products for their recreational purposes.
These products also pose a particular risk because children can easily mistake them for sweets and may consume larger quantities than adults, who take them in measured doses for their psychoactive effects. . Online research by the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment shows that, in addition to products resembling fruit gums or gummy bears, other products containing fly agaric poison are also available that can be mistaken for regular food, such as brownies and lollipops.
The fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) is one of the most well-known mushrooms, easily recognized by its distinctive red cap with white spots. The toxic effects of the fly agaric are primarily attributed to the substances ibotenic acid and muscimol. Ibotenic acid is an amino acid that is converted into muscimol during drying and when exposed to heat.
For many years, the toxin muscarine was believed to be responsible for the fly agaric`s poisonous effects. However, unlike in other poisonous mushrooms, muscarine is only present in trace amounts in the fly agaric and therefore plays little to no role in its toxicity.
Potential dangers of the fly agaric
Numerous case reports in scientific literature describe poisoning after consumption of fly agarics or products made from them. The mushrooms are ingested either intentionally, for example for their recreational purposes or accidentally, often due to confusion with edible mushrooms such as Caesar's mushroom (Amanita caesarea).
After consumption of fly agaric preparations, typical symptoms occur, characterized by alternating phases of drowsiness and agitation, somewhat similar to alcohol intoxication. Common symptoms include confusion, nausea, disorientation, hallucinations and impaired consciousness, which can progress to coma. In addition, non-specific symptoms such as cardiovascular disorders may also be observed. Although deaths from fly agarics consumption are extremely rare, they have been reported in exceptional cases. The effects usually begin about 30 minutes after consumption and generally wear off within 24 hours. However, in some cases, especially after consuming large quantities of fly agarics, symptoms have persisted for significantly longer. Depending on the exact proportion of ibotenic acid and muscimol, the severity of the symptoms can vary widely.
Muscimol
The fly agaric compound muscimol is structurally similar to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. The toxic effects are caused, among other mechanisms, by activation of the GABAAreceptor. It is assumed that the intoxicating effects of the fly agaric are primarily due to muscimol. The symptoms in humans are similar to those described above for poisoning caused by fly agaric preparations. Psychoactive effects in humans have been observed at intake levels of approximately 7.5-10 mgshort formilligram, with mild effects occurring after ingestion of 5 mgshort formilligram.
Products containing muscimol are currently being marketed, primarily through online platforms. Consumption of such products can lead to intoxication and significant health impairments. A particular risk lies in the fact that children can easily mistake these products for sweets and may unintentionally ingest large quantities of muscimol, potentially resulting in severe poisoning.