FSA issues chocolate warning after reports of illness

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned people not to eat Caligold chocolate following reports of illness.

The 70 percent dark chocolate bars were sold at Mansfield Market in Nottinghamshire, England. FSA and other authorities are trying to find out whether the product has a wider distribution.  

Police referred the incident to the FSA. A 63-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of administering a noxious substance and is assisting police with their inquiries.

“We are working with local authorities, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and Nottinghamshire Police to investigate an incident following reports of illness after eating Caligold chocolate. If you have purchased Caligold chocolate from Mansfield Market in Nottinghamshire, you should not consume it and dispose of it at home. If you have already eaten it and developed symptoms, you should urgently seek medical attention,” said Tina Potter, head of incidents at the FSA.

Caligold is a cannabis-infused chocolate sold in the United States. It is unclear if the product in Mansfield is legitimate or a copy.

Dr. Kakoli Choudhury, a consultant in communicable disease control at the UK Health Security Agency in the East Midlands, said: “The small number of people who became unwell have fully recovered. Investigations are ongoing about what may have caused the illness.”

Ongoing investigations
Detective Inspector Luke Todd of Nottinghamshire Police said: “We are aware of reports circulating online of people unknowingly purchasing chocolate laced with drugs from the Mansfield area over the weekend.

“Tests are being carried out, but there is no evidence to support claims that the chocolate bars contained any illicit drugs. An investigation is ongoing to establish why people feel unwell after consuming this chocolate. Please rest assured that we take all public safety incidents extremely seriously and will always investigate any reports we receive of this nature.”

Officers urged anyone with information about the incident to call the police or Crimestoppers anonymously.

It is the latest example of issues linked to chocolate products. Earlier this year, the FSA said it had been informed about Prime-labeled chocolate bars in the UK. Prime does not manufacture or supply any items except for beverages.

Examples of non-compliance were failure to provide an ingredient list, including allergen information on the label; no business name or address on the packaging; and the rewrapping of shop-bought chocolate in Prime branded wrappers, said the agency.

In 2022, the FSA warned people not to buy or eat counterfeit Wonka Bars sold in shops and online nationwide. Some fake bars contained allergens that weren’t listed on the label.

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