Peer-reviewed article
Cannabidiol in Food and Food Supplements: Drug, Novel Food and Hazard Triangle.
Torović L, Urumović K, Kobiljski D, Srđenović Čonić B ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This peer-reviewed article examines cannabidiol (CBD) in food and food supplements across the EU from 2018-2025, analysing over 400 regulatory notifications. It documents concerns including mislabeling, unauthorized health claims, contamination with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and marketing practices that may promote consumption by children. The study calls for stronger regulatory frameworks and market surveillance.
Key points
- 66.7% of CBD-related notifications involved food supplements, with 12.6% involving confectionery products like gummies
- Significant discrepancies found between labelled and actual CBD content in products
- 26.7% of CBD-related hazard notifications contained THC, sometimes exceeding legally permitted limits
- Products are often marketed in forms that may promote casual or unintentional consumption, including by children
- The CBD food market is characterized by inconsistent labelling practices and lacks harmonized regulatory standards
Limitations
This document focuses on regulatory notifications and market analysis rather than direct health outcomes or epidemiological data on children's exposure and health effects. It provides limited evidence on the actual prevalence of child consumption or documented harms to children from CBD-containing products.
Abstract
The concept of the "cannabidiol (CBD) Hazard Triangle" reflects the unique position of CBD at the intersection of three overlapping dimensions: CBD as a substance associated with medicinal and pharmacological effects ("Drug"); CBD as a food ingredient subject to the EU Novel Food regulatory framework ("Novel Food"); and CBD as a potential source of food safety concerns ("Hazard"). This study investigates the growing presence of CBD-containing food products, their associated regulatory challenges, safety concerns, and market dynamics through an analysis of notifications reported in the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), complemented by evidence from the scientific literature and authoritative regulatory sources. During the eight years (2018-2025), more than 400 CBD-related notifications were reported, predominantly involving food supplements (66.7%) and confectionery products, particularly gummies (12.6%). Significant discrepancies between the labelled and actual CBD content were frequently identified, along with unauthorized health claims implying therapeutic benefits. CBD-containing products were also found to contain other cannabinoids, most notably tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which was reported in 26.7% of CBD-related hazard notifications. In several cases, THC concentrations exceeded legally permitted limits. Furthermore, these products are often marketed in forms that may promote casual or unintentional consumption, including by children. Overall, the widespread availability of CBD-containing food products raises important safety and regulatory concerns, particularly for vulnerable population groups. The CBD food market remains highly heterogeneous, characterized by inconsistent labelling practices, strong consumer demand, and increasing regulatory pressure. These findings underscore the need for clearer regulatory frameworks, improved market surveillance, and harmonized standards. Further research is essential to address unresolved issues related to product safety, quality, and market integrity.