The FDA has issued a warning about cacao powder snuff like Coco Loko
The FDA has issued a warning statement about the use of Coco Loko, a chocolate based powder marketed as a ‘snuff’ intended to be snorted as an ‘alternative to illegal street drugs’.
IDK, it seems like the golden days of sniffing markers and pure, gross games like NekNominate are long gone, and I’m left feeling very, very old. Nevertheless, the Food and Drink Administration in the U.S is taking this new product pretty seriously.
“At a time where drug addiction is threatening the fabric of American society we must take action when we see efforts that may further fuel illicit drug abuse. We’ll continue to vigorously target bad actors that sell unapproved products, including products that contain undeclared drug ingredients,” says Scott Gottlieb, an FDA Commissioner.
A U.S senator has been campaigning against the snortable cacao powder, urging the Food and Drugs Administration to look into the product. According to the Guardian, Schumer said: “This suspect product has no clear health value, I can’t think of a single parent who thinks it is a good idea for their children to be snorting over-the-counter stimulants up their noses.”
Consuming Coco Loko is meant to provide a euphoric high, while also improving motivation. The main worry is that inhaling chocolate through the nose may trigger the vocal cords to spasm and result in difficulty breathing. Coco Loko has also been found to include the ingredients Taurine and Guarana – sometimes found in energy drinks – but neither of which have been evaluated for intranasal administration. Guarana has been associated with spikes in blood pressure and heart palpitations, and this threats could be even worse if it’s being snorted.
Legal Lean founder Nick Anderson, told the Washington Post that he used the stuff regularly for long car journeys and festivals, and wasn’t worried about Coco Loko being used as a gateway drug: “If you’re going to do drugs, you probably don’t start with chocolate. Certainly this is better than using an illicit drug.”
Coco Loko isn’t the only product facing the brunt of the FDA – Legal Lean CLC have also received a warning regarding their product ‘Legal Lean’, a supposed alternative to the Codeine-based ‘lean’. The company’s ‘legal’ version is said to include Doxylamine, despite not being listed, which can pose a serious risk when mixed with alcohol.
I can't help but miss the days when we’d smoke candy sticks and pretend to snort lemon sherbert.
