A leading industry analyst has said that the US Food and Drug Administration's announcement that it cannot guarantee the safety of cannabidiol (CBD) in food products is likely to 'send shockwaves' through this emerging food sector.
GlobalData food correspondent Andy Coyne was commenting following a statement by the US FDA issued warning letters to 15 companies for selling products that contain CBD, saying that it 'cannot conclude that CBD is generally recognised as safe among qualified experts for its use in human or animal food'.
'Real Risks'
"We want to be clear that a number of questions remain regarding CBD’s safety – including reports of products containing contaminants, such as pesticides and heavy metals – and there are real risks that need to be considered," FDA principal deputy commissioner Amy Abernethy, M.D., Ph.D. said in a statement.
In response to the FDA's announcement, Coyne said, "This will be devastating news for the burgeoning CBD food industry.
"CBD had been tipped by many industry-watchers as an emerging food trend to watch - and as a potentially lucrative market - but it now faces an uncertain future to say the least."
The FDA cited specific safety concerns linked to CBD products, adding that animal studies have determined that CBD can interfere with sperm count and testosterone levels in males, and could also pose a risk to children and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
'Damning Verdict'
"The FDA's verdict is damning," said Coyne. "It said some of the available data raises serious concerns about the potential harm from CBD, including possible liver damage, drowsiness, diarrhoea and changes in mood. This will hardly be reassuring for consumers.
"It is unlikely that we will see major players entering this space unless the scientific evidence changes. And those companies already offering CBD food products can expect increased scrutiny from the FDA and its equivalent in other markets.”
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
