A comprehensive analysis of commercially available "magic mushroom" edibles found that most products contain no psilocybin and are instead adulterated with undisclosed synthetic compounds, according to an analysis.
The team evaluated 12 retail products marketed as psychedelic mushroom edibles—11 gummies and one chocolate—purchased from Portland shops. Using advanced chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques, they found that 7 products were adulterated with ingredients not disclosed on labels, while 4 contained no active compounds.
"The label of gummy 7 indicated psilocybin (100 mg per gummy), but none was detected in this or any of the products," researchers reported. Similarly, Amanita muscaria constituents muscarine and muscimol were listed on one product's label but were not detected in any samples.
The study revealed concerning substitutions across product categories. Three products contained psilocin—the active metabolite of psilocybin—but lacked psilocybin itself or its biosynthetic precursors baeocystin and norbaeocystin, "suggesting adulteration with synthetic psilocin." Two gummies contained synthetic psychoactive tryptamines or "syndelics" that do not occur naturally in Psilocybe species, including mipracetin and 4-hydroxy-diethyltryptamine, along with isomers of each compound.
Additional adulterants identified included cannabinoids in one product, kavalactones from kava extract in another, and caffeine in a third product. The presence of synthetic tryptamines raises particular safety concerns. "The presence of syndelics—with unknown toxicology and pharmacology—raises significant safety concerns," the researchers noted. Kava, identified in one product, "is used for its anxiolytic and hallucinogenic properties but has been linked to hepatotoxicity."
The research employed multiple analytical methods for compound identification. Gummies underwent dispersive solid phase extraction using the QuEChERS method with acetonitrile, while the chocolate was extracted using methanol. Rose City Lab's Oregon-accredited high-performance liquid chromatography method tested for psilocybin and psilocin. Researchers then used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with National Institute of Standards and Technology libraries for peak identification, followed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry using 3 different instruments.
These findings occur against a backdrop of documented health incidents. During 2024, the CDC reported 180 emergency cases, 73 hospitalizations, and 3 deaths associated with unregulated magic mushroom products across 34 states.
The study's lead researcher, Richard B. van Breemen, PhD, of Oregon State University's Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, noted the broader implications: "Mislabeling and ingredient substitution endanger consumers and erode public trust in emerging psychedelic therapies."
Psilocybin and psilocin are currently under investigation for treating depression and substance use disorders, with legal use permitted under regulated conditions in Oregon and Colorado. However, the researchers noted that "to ensure safety, psilocybin-containing products require standardization and production using current Good Manufacturing Practices."
The study's limitations include the small sample size of 12 products from a single geographic region. However, the findings align with previous research documenting mislabeling and adulteration in both Amanita muscaria and Psilocybe species products.
The researchers concluded that "given their widespread availability, including online distribution, there is an urgent need for improved testing standards, stricter regulation, enhanced quality control, and state and federal enforcement."
Disclosures: The researchers reported no conflicts of interest.
Source: JAMA Network Open
