CDC's report on Diamond Shruumz chocolate illnesses: 180 cases, 73 hospitalized, 2 deaths

What CDC found

The report, by Rumph and colleagues, covers illnesses from January to October 2024. A case was an illness with moderate or major clinical effects in someone who ate any Diamond Shruumz product or another mushroom-containing chocolate product.¹ Of 180 cases in 34 states, 73 people were hospitalized, including 38 admitted to intensive care and 29 who needed endotracheal intubation; two died.¹

Compared with other mushroom-containing chocolates, eating Diamond Shruumz bars was associated with higher odds of hospitalization (odds ratio 3.29; 95% CI 1.51 to 7.40), ICU admission (6.30), seizures (8.45) and intubation (8.04). Eating larger amounts of the bars was associated with more hospitalization, ICU admission and intubation (p for trend 0.023, 0.004 and below 0.001).¹ The products were recalled.¹

How FDA's counts compare

FDA's outbreak page shows the counts from CDC's investigation as of October 31, 2024: 180 illnesses in 34 states. Of those, 118 people reportedly ate a Diamond Shruumz product, 36 an unspecified-brand mushroom chocolate bar and 26 another brand; 73 were hospitalized. The page lists "three (3) potentially associated deaths", one more than the April 2026 MMWR report counts.² When you see a death count for this outbreak, check which report and date it comes from.

What FDA's tests found in the products

FDA tested 22 chocolate bars, 10 cones and 22 gummies. Different products contained different compounds, and CDC's report notes that samples of the same product type and flavor contained different substances:^1,2

• Muscimol, a constituent of Amanita muscaria,³ in 9 of 22 chocolate bars and 5 of 10 cones.
• Psilocin in 4 bars, 5 cones and 14 gummies.
• Acetylpsilocin (4-AcO-DMT) in 9 bars, 5 cones and 14 gummies.
• Pregabalin, a prescription drug, in 3 bars, 5 cones and 4 gummies.
• Kavalactones in 18 bars, all 10 cones and 11 gummies.

The CDC authors point to "variability in ingredient composition" and "the absence of standardized regulatory oversight for sampling and testing finished products".¹

Why it matters for labels and dose claims

CDC describes the bars as "microdosing" products designed to be eaten in a presectioned serving.¹ A pre-portioned piece doesn't establish what each piece contains: FDA found different active ingredients in different products, and eating more was associated with worse outcomes. Some products sold as mushrooms contained a prescription drug or compounds from a different mushroom altogether. Products like these are still on shelves: in a 2025 phone survey of smoke shops in 11 US cities, 414 of the 718 that answered mushroom questions (59.7%) sold mushrooms, and 28.5% of those sellers didn't know what type.⁴ Only a lab test of the product in hand shows what is in it. Our guide to milligram claims on labels explains what a label number can and can't tell you, and our overdose and poisoning page covers warning signs.

Poison Help, 1-800-222-1222, connects to the local poison center 24/7.⁵ In an emergency, call 911.