New Zealand Food Bank Distributes Candy Containing Lethal Methamphetamine

A charity based in Auckland, New Zealand, has inadvertently distributed candies that contained dangerously high levels of methamphetamine within its food parcels. These sweets were donated by an unknown individual, raising significant concern among local authorities.

On Wednesday, the Auckland City Mission announced that its staff were making efforts to reach out to nearly 400 individuals to monitor food parcels that may have contained the contaminated candies. According to New Zealand authorities, three people were hospitalized after consuming the candies, although they have since been released.

The amount of methamphetamine encased within each candy was reported to be up to 300 times the typical dosage, posing a lethal risk, as noted by the New Zealand Drug Foundation. This organization specializes in drug testing and policy awareness, and they were the first to identify the dangerous contents of the sweets.

Spokesperson Ben Birks Ang mentioned that disguising harmful substances as harmless goods is a common tactic seen in cross-border drug smuggling operations. He warned that there may be additional candies distributed across New Zealand that have yet to be found.

The street value of these candies was estimated to be around NZ$ 1,000 (approximately $608) each. Birks Ang indicated that this high value likely suggested the donation was unintentional rather than an act of malice.

Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin stated that the authorities’ initial impression was that this incident might be linked to an importation scheme gone wrong, although the specific details and scale of the operation remain unclear. So far, 16 of the candies have been retrieved, but the total number possibly in circulation is still unknown.

City Missioner Helen Robinson reported that eight families, including at least one child, had come forward after consuming the tainted candies since the initial report on Tuesday. Fortunately, the unpleasant taste led most individuals to spit them out immediately.

Robinson also pointed out that the charity’s food bank strictly accepts donations of commercially manufactured food that is sealed in packaging. The pineapple-flavored candies, which bore the label of a Malaysian brand called Rinda, appeared legitimate when they were donated and arrived in a retail-sized bag.

The situation was brought to the charity’s attention on Tuesday by a client who noted that the candy had a “funny” taste. Staff members decided to sample some of the remaining candies and promptly contacted local authorities upon discovering their harmful nature. One staff member was taken to the hospital after tasting a candy, while both a child and a young person received treatment but were later discharged.

Robinson indicated that the candies had likely been donated sometime in the previous six weeks. However, it remains unclear how many contaminated sweets were distributed and how many contained methamphetamine.

The Rinda company has since issued a statement asserting that they were informed of the potential misuse of their candies through New Zealand news outlets and expressed their willingness to cooperate with the investigation.

General Manager Steven Teh emphasized that Rinda Food Industries does not condone the use of illegal substances in their products, reinforcing their commitment to safety and legality.

Methamphetamine, a highly addictive stimulant, significantly affects the central nervous system. This substance typically appears as a white, odorless powder with a bitter taste that can easily dissolve in both water and alcohol.