Lucky Charms has a legion of fans who call the colorful granola “magically delicious,” but some consumers say they had a less-than-magical experience after indulging in the toasted oatmeal and marshmallow bits.
The website IWasPoisoned.com has reports from more than 100 consumers who say they have experienced gastrointestinal issues ranging from nausea and diarrhea to vomiting after eating General Mills cereal, Food Safety News reported . The site describes itself as a “consumer-run site for guests to report suspected food poisoning or bad dining experiences.”
“I have had abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea for several weeks. I eat lucky charms every day,” says a report from Hawaii. “I recently stopped eating them and I’m starting to feel a little better. I still have stomach pains.”
“My son eats lucky charms for breakfast a few times a week,” says another report from New Jersey. “He has had stomach problems for about 4 months due to missing school due to vomiting and diarrhea.”
Related video: Skippy remembers more than 9000 cases of peanut butter
As of April 8, there was no official recall of the products, but General Mills spokeswoman Andrea Williamson told TODAY Food that food safety is the company’s “top priority.”
“We take consumer concerns reported through a third-party website very seriously. After a thorough internal investigation, we have found no evidence that these complaints are attributed to our products,” she wrote in an email. “We encourage consumers to share any concerns directly with General Mills to ensure they can be addressed appropriately.”
When it comes to food safety issues, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) frequently updates their website with information about possible recalls/investigations. An FDA spokesman told TODAY that the agency is not discussing the details of “possible or ongoing investigations” under guidelines, but shared the following statement via email:
The story goes on
“As stated, we are aware of the reports on IWasPoisoned.com and are investigating them in addition to the information shared with the CFSAN Adverse Event Reporting System (CAERS) – (a) Database containing information on adverse event reports and product complaints filed with the FDA for foods, dietary supplements and cosmetics,” they wrote.
The spokesman announced that since 2004, the FDA’s CAERS data shows 41 reports related to good luck charms. In 2021 there were three adverse event reports and only one appeared to be related to the IWasPoisoned.com complaints.
“Additionally, the agency has not received any calls to the FDA’s Food and Cosmetic Information Center related to good luck charms,” the statement continued.