MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Online Availability of Diamond Shruumz Before and After FDA Recall Initiation: Qualitative Assessment and Simulated Test Purchasing

Summary

Diamond Shruumz mushroom-based edible products caused severe illnesses in consumers and were recalled by the FDA in June 2024. Researchers discovered that despite the recall, many online sellers continued to advertise and sell these products across social media and websites. The study found that even two weeks after the recall, about one-third of the websites still successfully completed product sales, showing how difficult it is for regulators to enforce recalls on the internet.

Background

Diamond Shruumz mushroom-containing products led to 180 reported illnesses across 34 states as of October 2024, including 73 hospitalizations and 3 possible deaths. These products contain muscimol derived from Amanita muscaria but were found to contain undisclosed synthetic analogues including 4-acetoxy-DMT. A manufacturer-initiated recall on June 27, 2024 restricted sale and distribution of these products.

Objective

This study assessed the continuing online availability of Diamond Shruumz products before and after FDA recall initiation. The goal was to identify and characterize online marketing and availability across diverse e-commerce platforms and social media channels.

Results

Pre-recall surveillance identified 4,117 product listings across 1,600 social media posts, 11 cannabis e-commerce sites, and 2,509 search engine hyperlinks. Post-recall, 45 domains (67.16%) continued marketing products, with 15 (33.33%) successfully completing simulated test purchases and 30 (66.66%) failing transactions.

Conclusion

Despite FDA recall initiation, online vendors continued to market and sell Diamond Shruumz products, demonstrating ongoing challenges in effectuating recalls in diverse e-commerce landscapes. The findings highlight the need for persistent online marketplace monitoring and novel surveillance approaches to address emerging psychoactive products with legal ambiguity.
  • Published in:Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR),
  • Study Type:Qualitative Retrospective Market Surveillance Study,
  • Source: 10.2196/64820, PMID: 40586741
Scroll to Top