Don’t snort chocolate powder, FDA warns

'Snortable' chocolate powder has sparked safety concerns

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning against snorting chocolate powder.

The FDA is cracking down on Orlando-based company Legal Lean who created a “snortable” chocolate powder called Coco Loko.

Nick Anderson, the 29-year-old founder of Legal Lean, decided to invest $10,000 (£7,400) into creating his own raw cacao snuff after trying a sample from Europe.

He described the effects of snorting the powder as: “Almost like an energy-drink feeling, like you’re euphoric but also motivated to get things done.”

Coco Loko is made from ingredients including cacao powder, ginkgo biloba, taurine and guarana.

Taurine and guarana are both often found in energy drinks.

Guarana has been found to cause insomnia, nausea, an increased heart rate and anxiety.

Earlier this week, the FDA posted a warning letter to marketers and distributors of two Legal Lean products - a drink called Legal Lean Syrup and Coco Loko.

The letter outlines the worrying fact that Coco Loko was promoted as a street drug substitute, thus encouraging young people to seek alternatives to illegal highs.

Scott Gottlieb, M.D., FDA Commissioner, commented on the risks associated with the distribution and consumption of snortable chocolate powder.

“As a physician and a parent, I’m deeply troubled by the unlawful marketing of these potentially dangerous products, especially since they are so easily accessible to minors,” he said.

“Encouraging the use of snortable chocolate as an alternative to illegal street drugs is not acceptable - there are very real consequences to snorting any powder, not to mention the societal dangers of promoting drug abuse.”

The Independent has reached out to Legal Lean for comment.