In a blow for cannabidiol (CBD) suppliers and retailers who stock their products, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has updated its consumer guidance, slashing the safe daily dosage of CBD from food from 70mg to just 10 mg, due to the risk of adverse liver and thyroid impacts when higher doses are taken over a period of time.
This means that a single dose of some CBD products currently on the market are over the safety limit. For example, Trip, which claims to be the UK’s fastest growing soft drinks brand (up 522% YOY - Nielsen), contains 15mg of CBD per can, while Orange County Gummy Worms contain 25mg of CBD per worm. Both of these products - and many others - have already been validated on the FSA’s public list of CBD products that can be marketed in England and Wales and are linked to credible applications going through the Novel Food authorisation process, but they now exceed the new daily dose recommendation.
However, products on the FSA public list that provide more than 10mg of CBD are not being recalled.
The FSA said: “There is no acute safety risk with consuming more than 10mg of CBD a day, based on the data we have assessed to date. However, above this level and over a period of time, there is evidence of some adverse impacts on the liver and thyroid. The higher the dose that is consumed and the more often higher doses are consumed will increase the risks of experiencing an adverse health effect.
“Some food products currently on the market contain more than 10mg of CBD per serving. We will work with industry to agree a way forward on these products. In the meantime, we are releasing updated consumer advice to allow the public to make informed decisions about their intake of products containing CBD.”
The new advice will be a bitter pill for many CBD suppliers to swallow. Vitality CBD, which produces CBD gummies, oils, vapes and skincare lines, has been actively promoting a higher dosage, stating on its website: “Where previously we recommended dosages of 20-45mg, our user base regularly uses daily doses in excess of 70mg+. Experimenting with higher doses is essential for user satisfaction.”
The Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI) said: “We urge retailers to take this as guidance, which it is. Nothing will change immediately in terms of products included on the FSA’s public list.
“As an organisation committed to the responsible and safe use of CBD products, we understand the importance of evidence-based recommendations to protect public health. Our scientific panel will examine the scientific evidence released today to better understand how the FSA have come to their conclusion. We will make further comments once our experts have completed their review.
“We highlight to consumers that this guidance demonstrates the FSA still considers CBD to be safe and their advice relates to lifetime consumption of daily high doses of CBD.
“In light of this updated advice, the ACI trusts that the FSA, after considering the implications of their announcement, will find a suitable solution for companies that have invested heavily to submit Novel Foods authorisation applications for their products. We remain committed to engage with the FSA to support our members who have acted in good faith throughout the Novel Foods process so far.”
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