New Zealanders are being warned not to eat a specific brand of lolly after drug-testing revealed a potentially lethal amount of methamphetamine in them.
The NZ Drug Foundation drug-tested a white lolly found inside a Rinda-branded pineapple lolly wrapper after a person complained of a sour taste and “feeling unusual” after starting to eat one.
The lolly was found to contain about 3g of methamphetamine.
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“A common dose to swallow is between 10mg-25mg so this contaminated lolly contained up to 300 doses,” NZDF executive director Sarah Helm said.
“Swallowing that much methamphetamine is extremely dangerous and could result in death.”
The lollies were donated for food parcels which Auckland City Mission distributed to 300 to 400 people.
Auckland City Mission chief executive Helen Robinson said she was devastated, adding they were working “with urgency” to contact anyone who received an affected food parcel.
“The mission only accepts commercially manufactured food … and the lollies appeared as such when they were donated,” Robinson said.
“It was a highly appropriate thing for our staff to believe this was a safe lolly. It was in a sealed, contained package and the lollies were individually wrapped.”
Robinson said she knew of eight families affected.
No illness or injuries have been reported.
The NZDF said the discovery of drugs in the lollies justified its legalised drug-checking system and communication networks.
Deputy director Ben Birks-Ang said more lollies could be out there, suggesting they may be part of a botched drug trade.
“We know that disguising substances as something else to smuggle it is common internationally,” he said.