The safety and well-being of our children is a concern that never takes a back seat, especially when it comes to what they're consuming.

In a recent alarming incident, two high school students found themselves in a dire situation that serves as a reminder to parents and guardians about the vigilance needed regarding the products young people have access to.


Two teenage boys from Palm Beach Currumbin State High School on the southern Gold Coast were rushed to hospital after reportedly consuming Uncle Frog's Mushroom Gummies, a product that health authorities had previously flagged.

The incident occurred around 1:45 pm on Wednesday, triggering an immediate response from emergency services.


One of the teens was taken to Griffith University Hospital in a stable condition, while the other received initial treatment at Tugun Satellite Hospital before being transferred to Robina Hospital for further assessment.

The distressing situation unfolded after the boys ingested the gummies, which had been recalled by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) in June due to health concerns.

This isn't the first time Uncle Frog's Mushroom Gummies have been at the centre of a health scare.


Since April, at least five cases in New South Wales have occurred in which individuals required hospital treatment after consuming the product, and other states have reported similar incidents.

Symptoms reported by patients included nausea, persistent vomiting, seizure-like activity, involuntary movement, anxiety, disturbing hallucinations, drowsiness or loss of consciousness, dizziness, light-headedness, and racing heart or pulse.

FSANZ's recall was prompted by the discovery of unapproved novel food ingredients—specifically lion’s mane and cordyceps—within the gummies.

These ingredients are not typically found in everyday snacks and can pose significant health risks, particularly when consumed without proper guidance or understanding of their effects.

'Consumers should not eat this product.' they advised anyone who had purchased Uncle Frog's Mushroom Gummies to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund and to seek medical attention if they were concerned about their health.


In response to the incident, a Queensland Department of Education spokesman emphasised the department's commitment to student and staff safety.

‘There is no higher priority for the Department of Education than the safety and wellbeing of students and staff,’ he said.

‘The department is aware of an incident that occurred at Palm Beach Currumbin State High School earlier today, in which two students ingested a substance.’

‘As soon as the school became aware of the incident, emergency services were immediately contacted to attend the school and assess the students.’

‘Support services have been arranged by the school and are available for anyone who may require it.’

‘No further details can be provided for reasons of student privacy.’


The school acted promptly, contacting emergency services as soon as they became aware of the situation to ensure the students received the necessary medical attention.

In other news, At least five people have been hospitalised with severe symptoms after consuming Uncle Frog's Mushroom Gummies.

The NSW Chief Health Officer has warned against eating the cordyceps and lion’s mane varieties of the gummies. You can read more about it here.
What concerns should parents consider when checking the safety of new food products for their kids? How might this incident affect your view of food manufacturers' consumer health responsibilities? Let us know in the comments below.