CBD-infused food and beverages may not be safe, says FDA

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has raised concerns over the use of cannabidiol (CBD) in food and beverage products.

The agency said that there is no scientific data that supports or establishes that CBD is generally recognised as safe (GRAS) for use in food. The FDA also said that since CBD may pose unknown health risks it cannot be marketed as a dietary supplement or food.

It has also published a revised consumer update that outlined specific safety issues related to CBD products, including potential liver injury, drowsiness, diarrhoea and changes in mood.

FDA principal deputy commissioner Amy Abernethy said: “We remain concerned that some people wrongly think that the myriad of CBD products on the market, many of which are illegal, have been evaluated by the FDA and determined to be safe.

“Aside from one prescription drug approved to treat two paediatric epilepsy disorders, these products have not been approved by the FDA and we want to be clear that a number of questions remain regarding CBD’s safety.”

The federal agency has already sent warning letters to 15 companies, which are involved in retailing cannabidiol-infused products violating the US Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). Some of these companies were selling cannabidiol to consumers as a dietary supplement.

In response to the update released by the FDA the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) president and CEO Steve Mister said: “It’s time for FDA to announce a legal pathway to market for these CBD-containing supplements and to commence meaningful enforcement against products that flout category-wide requirements for dietary supplements.”