CBD daily recommendation get slashed significantly due to 'long-term adverse effects'
The recommended maximum daily amount of cannabidiol (CBD) has been slashed from 70mg to 10mg by the UK's food watchdog due to concerns over "long-term adverse effects".
Healthy adults should should now limit their consumption of CBD from food to this new amount (about four to five drops of 5% oil), as per new precautionary advice from the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
Cannabidiol sold as food includes oils, drops, tinctures, gel capsules, sweets and confectionery, bread and other bakery products and drinks.
Read more: Cannabis extract CBD is found in leaves and fruits of different plant (Yahoo News UK, 2-min read)
Back in February 2020, the FSA published consumer advice recommending healthy adults don't take more than 70mg of CBD per day (about 28 drops of 5% CBD), but at the time warned this "doesn’t mean that these levels are definitely safe, but that the evidence we have suggests adverse health effects could potentially be seen above this".
Following this, a joint subgroup of the Committee on Toxicity (COT) and the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (two independent science committees that advise the FSA) have been reviewing the safety evidence submitted by the CBD industry.
The FSA has now determined there is no "acute safety risk" from consuming 10mg or under of CBD based on available data. However, above this level over an extended period of time, it found evidence of some adverse impacts to the liver and thyroid.
The higher the the dose and the more often its consumed, the higher the risk.
With some food products currently on the market containing more than 10mg per serving, the FSA said it would work with the industry to "agree a way forward" on these items.
Meanwhile, it has encouraged consumers to monitor their daily consumption by checking the CBD content of the product and considering any changes they may wish to make based on the new guidance.
It continues to advise that cannabidiol is not taken by people in vulnerable groups, including children, people taking medication who have not consulted a medical professional and those who are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive.
Read more: Fruits with the best health benefits, as study reveals grapes can improve eyesight (Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read)
"Our independent advisory committees have reviewed the safety assessments submitted by the industry as part of their novel food applications and we are advising that healthy adults should take no more than 10mg of CBD a day," says Professor Robin May, chief scientific advisor at the FSA.
"The more CBD you consume over your lifetime, the more likely you are to develop long-term adverse effects, like liver damage or thyroid issues. The level of risk is related to how much you take, as it is with some other potentially harmful products such as alcoholic drinks.
"We encourage consumers to check the CBD content on the product label to monitor their overall daily consumption of CBD and consider if they wish to make changes to how much they take based on this updated advice."
FSA chief executive Emily Miles adds, "We have always advised the public to think carefully about taking edible CBD products and, as with all foods, we continue to review our advice based on the evidence we gather from the industry.
"We understand that this change to our advice will have implications for products currently on the market that contain more than 10mg of CBD per serving.
"We will be working closely with industry to minimise the risk so that consumers are not exposed to potentially harmful levels of CBD."
Read more: The health benefits of Tiktok’s latest #silentwalking wellness trend (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)
Watch: Nicole Scherzinger takes cannabidiol gummies to help her sleep
What is CBD?
CBD is a chemical substance found in cannabis (the hemp plant) that has medical benefits, according to the NHS. It won't get you high, because it doesn't contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the chemical in cannabis that makes you high.
It's thought to help relieve symptoms of anxiety or pain, or help people fall sleep if taken a couple hours before bed.
"Some products that might claim to be medical cannabis, such as CBD oil or hemp oil, are available to buy legally as food supplements from health stores. But there's no guarantee these are of good quality or provide any health benefits," the health service explains.
"Specific cannabis-based products are available on prescription as medicinal cannabis. These are only likely to benefit a very small number of patients [such as those with chronic pain]."
Additional reporting PA.
