The UK food safety authorities have issued new precautionary guidance on the consumption of CBD, a cannabis extract that is widely used in food and wellness products. The new advice lowers the recommended daily limit of CBD from 70mg to 10mg, citing potential risks to the liver and thyroid. Here are some key points to understand the new advice and its implications.
What is CBD and why is it popular?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of the non-psychoactive chemicals found in the hemp plant, which is a variety of cannabis. Unlike THC, another chemical in cannabis, CBD does not cause intoxication or euphoria. CBD is claimed to have various health benefits, such as reducing pain, inflammation, anxiety, and seizures. CBD is also used as a food ingredient, and can be found in oils, drops, capsules, sweets, bakery products, and drinks.
CBD has become very popular in recent years, especially in the UK, where it is legal to sell and consume as long as it contains less than 0.2% THC. According to a report by the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis, the UK CBD market was worth £300m in 2019 and was expected to grow to £1bn by 2025. The report also estimated that 6 million adults in the UK had tried CBD products.
What are the new recommendations and why were they changed?
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and its Scottish counterpart, Food Standards Scotland (FSS), have updated their advice on CBD intake for healthy adults. They now recommend that healthy adults should limit their consumption of CBD from food to 10mg per day, which is about four or five drops of 5% CBD oil. This is a significant reduction from the previous advice, which was 70mg per day, or about 28 drops of 5% CBD oil.
The new recommendations are based on the latest evidence from the CBD industry and the scientific committees that advise the FSA and FSS. The evidence suggests that consuming more than 10mg of CBD per day over a long period of time may increase the risk of liver damage or thyroid issues. The FSA and FSS said that there was no acute safety risk with consuming more than 10mg of CBD per day based on the available data, but they advised consumers to be cautious and monitor their intake.
Professor Robin May, chief scientific advisor at the FSA, said: “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. 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, in the same way it is with some other potentially harmful products such as alcoholic drinks.”
How will this affect the CBD industry and consumers?
The new advice on CBD intake may have significant implications for the CBD industry and consumers. Some of the products currently on the market contain more than 10mg of CBD per serving, which means that consumers may exceed the recommended limit with just one dose. The FSA and FSS said that they would work with the industry to agree on a way forward for these products, but they did not specify what actions they would take.
The FSA and FSS also reminded consumers that CBD products are classed as novel foods, which means that they need to be authorised before they can be legally sold in the UK. The FSA has created a list of products that have applied for authorisation, but none of them have been approved yet. The FSA said that it would not take enforcement action against these products until March 2024, as long as they are safe and correctly labelled.
The FSA and FSS also advised consumers to check the labels of the products they use and consider if they want to change their intake in light of the new advice. They also reiterated their previous advice that CBD should not be taken by people in vulnerable groups, such as children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or people taking medication who have not consulted a medical professional.
What are the experts’ opinions on CBD and its safety?
CBD is a complex and controversial substance that has attracted both interest and scepticism from researchers, regulators, and consumers. There is some evidence that CBD may have therapeutic potential for certain conditions, such as epilepsy, chronic pain, anxiety, and psychosis. However, there is also a lack of conclusive data on its safety, efficacy, quality, dosage, interactions, and long-term effects.
Some experts have welcomed the new advice on CBD intake as a precautionary measure that reflects the uncertainty around its safety profile. Dr Tom Freeman, senior lecturer in psychology at King’s College London and lead director of the Addiction and Mental Health Group, said: “The new advice from the FSA is a sensible step to protect public health. CBD products are widely available, but the evidence to support their use is limited. There are also concerns about the quality and accuracy of some products on the market. Consumers should be aware of the potential risks and benefits of CBD, and consult their doctor before using it, especially if they have a medical condition or take medication.”
Other experts have criticised the new advice as too restrictive and based on insufficient evidence. Dr Andy Yates, pharmacy lead at the Association for the Cannabinoid Industry, said: “The new advice from the FSA is disappointing and surprising. It is not based on any new scientific data, but on a precautionary approach that ignores the existing evidence on CBD safety. The FSA has not provided any justification for lowering the recommended limit from 70mg to 10mg, which is a drastic change that will affect millions of consumers and hundreds of businesses. The FSA should reconsider its decision and engage with the industry and the scientific community to find a more balanced and evidence-based approach.”
