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Quick answer: Muscimol and ibotenic acid are naturally occurring compounds found in Amanita muscaria, a mushroom species that is not the same thing as the functional mushrooms (like lion’s mane, reishi, or cordyceps) used in most wellness supplements. The FDA has stated these compounds are not authorized for use in conventional food and may be harmful. A 2024 outbreak tied to Diamond Shruumz-brand edibles led to dozens of hospitalizations. This guide explains what the compounds are, what regulators found, and how to read a mushroom edible label so you know what you’re actually buying.
What Are Muscimol and Ibotenic Acid?
Muscimol and ibotenic acid are psychoactive compounds found naturally in Amanita muscaria, sometimes called fly agaric. This is a different mushroom species entirely from the ones used in most functional mushroom products, such as lion’s mane, reishi, cordyceps, or turkey tail.
These are two separate compound classes that consumers sometimes lump together, so it’s worth being precise:
- Functional mushroom extracts (lion’s mane, reishi, cordyceps, turkey tail) are the ingredients typically found in wellness gummies, capsules, and powders marketed for everyday support.
- Muscimol and ibotenic acid come from Amanita muscaria and are associated with psychoactive, hallucinogenic, and sedative-type effects. They are not interchangeable with the functional mushroom category, and research suggests their safety profile is not established for use in food.
Confusing the two matters because some products marketed as “mushroom edibles” or “mushroom gummies” have blended Amanita-derived compounds with other novel substances, without always disclosing that clearly on the label. That’s the labeling gap this article focuses on.
What the FDA Investigation Found
In June 2024, the FDA and CDC opened an investigation into illnesses linked to Diamond Shruumz-brand chocolate bars, cones, and gummies. By the time the investigation closed, the case count had grown substantially, with reported illnesses tied to the products spanning most of the country.
According to the FDA’s published findings, people who became ill reported severe symptoms, including seizures, loss of consciousness, confusion, agitation, abnormal heart rates, and dangerous swings in blood pressure. The agency’s lab testing found that Diamond Shruumz-brand products did not contain a single, consistent formula. Instead, samples turned up a mix of substances that varied from batch to batch, including muscimol, acetylpsilocin, psilocin (a Schedule I controlled substance), the prescription drug pregabalin, and kavalactones from the kava plant.
The FDA noted explicitly that muscimol did not appear in every tested sample and could not by itself explain all the reported symptoms, which points to a bigger problem than any single compound: these products were inconsistent, and consumers had no reliable way to know what was actually in the package they bought.
The FDA’s December 2024 Letter to Industry
Following the outbreak, the FDA issued a formal letter to food manufacturers in December 2024. The letter states that Amanita muscaria, its extracts, and specific constituents, namely muscimol, ibotenic acid, and muscarine, are not authorized for use as ingredients in conventional food.
The agency’s position, in plain terms: these compounds do not meet the Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) standard, and using them in food makes that food an unapproved additive. The FDA also said it recommends people avoid eating foods containing these ingredients and confirmed it is separately reviewing their use in dietary supplements.
This is a regulatory determination, not a treatment claim or a diagnosis of any individual product. What it tells shoppers is that the presence of these compounds in a food or edible product places it outside the FDA’s current safety framework, regardless of how the product is marketed.
What a 2026 Forensic Testing Report Adds
A May 2026 test-purchase report from the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE) sampled a range of retail “mushroom blend” products, including gummies, chocolates, and liquids. The lab’s findings reinforce the core labeling problem: several products advertised as mushroom or nootropic blends were found to contain synthetic psychedelic compounds not disclosed on the label, such as 4-AcO-DMT, 4-HO-MET, or psilocin, while at least one product marketed with Amanita mushrooms tested negative for the substances the lab was screening for at that time.
Muscimol and ibotenic acid were not within that particular testing panel’s scope, so the report doesn’t confirm or rule out their presence across the wider market. What it does confirm is the broader pattern regulators have flagged: label claims for these blended “mushroom edible” products have not reliably matched lab-confirmed contents. [VERIFY BEFORE PUBLISHING: confirm no updated CFSRE panel has since added muscimol/ibotenic acid testing.]
How to Read a Mushroom Edible Label
Given the gap between label claims and lab results found in FDA and CFSRE testing, a few label habits can help you tell functional mushroom products apart from higher-risk psychoactive edibles:
- Check whether the species is named specifically. “Proprietary mushroom blend” without a species name is a red flag; “organic lion’s mane fruiting body extract” is specific and verifiable.
- Look for Amanita muscaria, muscimol, or ibotenic acid anywhere in the ingredient list or marketing copy. If present, that product falls outside the FDA’s current safety determination for food use.
- Be cautious with products marketed as “legal psychedelics,” “microdosing,” or similar language layered onto a mushroom label. This phrasing was common among the products named in the FDA investigation.
- Check for third-party lab testing or a Certificate of Analysis (COA), and confirm it actually covers the compounds in question rather than just heavy metals or microbials.
For a fuller walkthrough of label terms, potency claims, and sourcing disclosures, see our guide to reading mushroom supplement labels and our broader mushroom supplement safety guide.
Who Should Be Extra Cautious
Based on the symptoms reported in the FDA’s investigation, extra caution is warranted for anyone with a heart condition, a seizure disorder, or a history of adverse reactions to unregulated supplements, as well as pregnant or breastfeeding individuals. Products intended for children should never contain these compounds, and the FDA specifically noted that some of the affected products could appeal to children and teens due to their candy-like packaging. If you or someone in your household may have consumed one of these products and is experiencing symptoms, contact a healthcare provider or the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222.
Where Functional Mushroom Products Fit In
None of this is a statement about functional mushroom supplements as a category. Products built around lion’s mane, reishi, or cordyceps extract are formulated differently and are not the subject of the FDA’s Amanita determination. For example, Pilly Labs’ Mushroom Gummies list their functional mushroom species directly on the product label. As with any supplement, we’d still encourage you to check the current label and COA yourself rather than relying on marketing copy. We’ve broken down what that label discloses in our Pilly Mushroom Gummies review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are muscimol and ibotenic acid illegal?
Their legal status varies and can change, so check current state and federal rules before assuming a product is legal to sell or possess where you live. What’s established is that the FDA does not authorize them for use in conventional food.
Is Amanita muscaria the same as psilocybin mushrooms?
No. Psilocybin and psilocin come from a different group of mushrooms and act on the body differently than muscimol and ibotenic acid. Some products tested by regulators and labs contained both types of compounds in the same package.
Can a mushroom gummy be safe if it doesn’t list these compounds?
A clean ingredient list is a good sign, but it isn’t a guarantee. FDA and CFSRE testing found products where lab results didn’t match the label. Third-party testing that specifically screens for these compounds adds meaningfully more confidence than label claims alone.
What should I do if I already have one of the recalled Diamond Shruumz products?
Do not eat it. The FDA recommends discarding it or returning it to the retailer, and contacting Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if you’ve already consumed it and are experiencing symptoms.
Does this affect regular functional mushroom supplements like lion’s mane or reishi?
Not directly. The FDA’s determination is specific to Amanita muscaria and its constituents. Functional mushroom species are a separate category, though it’s still worth confirming species and testing on any product you buy.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Ask a qualified healthcare professional about supplements, medications, pregnancy, or health conditions.
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