Complaints filed about mold in marijuana gummies with 1 sick; recall underway
By News Desk on February 2, 2021
For the second time in less than a month consumer complaints have spurred a recall of edible marijuana products, this time for more than 330,000 packages.
The new Canadian recall involves all lots of Haven St. Rise No.570 Wild Berry THC Infused Gummy and Haven St. Drift No. 470 Sour Watermelon THC Infused Gummy, according to a notice posted by the Public Health Agency of Canada. The gummies are believed to be contaminated with mold.
“To date, TerrAscend Canada has received 10 complaints regarding the recalled lots, none of which involved an adverse reaction. Health Canada has not received any complaints or reports of adverse reactions related to the recalled lot,” according to the government’s recall notice.
“The affected product may contain mold. In certain individuals, exposure may result in allergic symptom such as sneezing, coughing, wheezing, runny nose or nasal congestion, and watery or itchy eyes.”
Authorized retailers in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Newfoundland sold the recalled products.
There is concern that consumers may have the recalled products in their homes because of their long shelf life. The implicated products were sold from September 2020 through January 2021.
Consumers can determine whether they have the affected gummies by checking for the codes listed below.
“Consumers should immediately stop using this product and return unopened product to the retailer where the product was purchased. Open product should be discarded securely, and out of reach of children and young persons,” according to the recall notice.
| Product Name | Lot Numbers |
|---|---|
| Haven St.Rise No.570 Wild Berry THC Infused Gummy | 2002172, 2002228, 2002291, 2002307, 2002308, 2002364, 2002366, 2002372,2002374, 2002381, 2002591, 2002593, 2002670, 2002672, 2002674, 2002774, 2002794 |
| Haven St. Drift No. 470 Sour Watermelon THC Infused Gummy | 2002230, 2002232, 2002289, 2002311, 2002313, 2002339, 2002341, 2002368, 2002370, 2002595, 2002597, 2002599, 2002601, 2002738, 2002740, 2002742 |
Companies involved in recalling the products, including distributors, include:
- TerrAscend Canada
Ontario
Tel: 1-855-837-7295 - Ontario Cannabis Store
Ontario
Tel: 1-844-627-1112 - British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch
British Columbia
Tel: 604-252-7400 - Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis
Alberta
Tel: 1-800-272-8876 - P.E.I Cannabis
Prince Edward Island
Tel: 902-368-5551 - Cannabis NB
New Brunswick
Tel: 1-833-821-2195 - Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba
Manitoba
Tel: 1-800-782-0363 - Cannabis NL
Newfoundland and Labrador
Tel: 1-844-757-5986 - Retailers in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Previous recall
Complaints of mold in another kind of edible cannabis product caused another company to launch a recall in mid-January. This recall involves one lot of Agro-Greens Natural Products Ltd.’s North 40 Black Cherry Punch dried cannabis, which was sold through provincially authorized retailers in Saskatchewan and to clients registered for medical purposes.
The recalled product has a packaging date code of “20-P88 Nov 30, 2020.”
“To date, Agro-Greens Natural Products Ltd. has received four complaints regarding the recalled lot, including one adverse reaction. Health Canada has not received any complaints or reports of adverse reactions related to the recalled lot,” according to the recall notice.
The company reports he recalled product was sold from Dec. 4 through 23, 2020. Consumers should return unopened product to the store. Opened product should be thrown away in a secure manner.
As of the posting of the Jan. 7 recall notice the following retailers sold the affected product:
- 5 Buds Cannabis, Yorkto, Saskatchewan
- 5 Buds Cannabis, Warman, Saskatchewan
- Delta 9 Cannabis Store Inc., Lloydminster, Saskatchewan
- The Bakery, Regina, Saskatchewan
- Tweed, Regina, Saskatchewan
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TerrAscend expands gummy recall following complaints ‘alleging’ mould
The company says it proactively initiated the recall of 330K units after receiving consumer complaints alleging mould on its Haven St. gummies
Nick Laba February 1, 2021
n one of the biggest cannabis product recalls in Canada to date, TerrAscend and Health Canada are asking consumers to return 330,927 units of infused gummies.
On Jan. 27, TerrAscend Canada says it expanded a voluntary recall on a lot of Haven St. Wild Berry THC Infused Soft Chew to include all Haven St. soft chew gummies sold in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, P.E.I. and Newfoundland.
Recalled product was made by the company at its production facility in Mississauga, Ont., and sold from September 2020 to January 2021.
The recall issued by Health Canada on Friday includes a total of 33 lots of the Haven St. Rise No.570 Wild Berry THC Infused Gummy and Haven St. Drift No. 470 Sour Watermelon THC Infused Gummy.
Consumers should immediately stop using this product, the federal agency says, and return unopened units to the retailer where the product was purchased.
North American operator TerrAscend says it proactively initiated the recall after receiving consumer complaints alleging the presence of mould on certain gummies.
Read more: TerrAscend opens its first New Jersey store as adult-use sales loom
“Health Canada was notified and we continue to work collaboratively with the agency to follow their recommended actions for this voluntary recall,” the company said in an email statement. “As we begin reaching out to customers directly impacted by the voluntary recall, we are asking them to take any used or unused product back to their local retailer for a full refund or credit. TerrAscend Canada remains committed to providing customers with safe, effective and quality products.”
The affected product may contain mould, Health Canada warns.
“In certain individuals, exposure may result in allergic symptom such as sneezing, coughing, wheezing, runny nose or nasal congestion, and watery or itchy eyes,” the regulator said in the official recall notice on the Canadian government’s website.
“The use of, or exposure to a mouldy product may cause temporary adverse health consequences, where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote,” the notice continutes. “To date, TerrAscend Canada has received 10 complaints regarding the recalled lots, none of which involved an adverse reaction. Health Canada has not received any complaints or reports of adverse reactions related to the recalled lot.”
While complaints of unwanted fungus found on cannabis have spread wildly on websites like Reddit, cannabis experts often remind the public that the risks are akin to mould in food products. If you found one mouldy apple in a bag, for instance, you’d likely throw it out but eat the rest.
On Jan. 22, Health Canada issued a recall of 100,132 units of Hexo’s All-in-One disposable cannabis vape pens following three reports of continuous battery engagement leading to excessive heat and melting. No injuries were reported.
Also in 2021, two small recalls have been issued for one lot of Delta 9 Oceanic Sea Breeze and one lot of North 40 Black Cherry Punch.
Read more: Industry praises North 40’s integrity amid powdery mildew outbreak
Affected lots for the Haven St.Rise No.570 Wild Berry THC Infused Gummy: 2002172, 2002228, 2002291, 2002307, 2002308, 2002364, 2002366, 2002372,2002374, 2002381, 2002591, 2002593, 2002670, 2002672, 2002674, 2002774, 2002794.
And for the Haven St. Drift No. 470 Sour Watermelon THC Infused Gummy: 2002230, 2002232, 2002289, 2002311, 2002313, 2002339, 2002341, 2002368, 2002370, 2002595, 2002597, 2002599, 2002601, 2002738, 2002740, 2002742.
Update (2021-2-2 10:30 am): This article was updated to include the location where the recalled gummies were produced.