Mansfield: Hallucinogens found in market chocolate, police say

Police said testing had revealed a substance liked to cannabis in some bars

Quantities of hallucinogenic drugs have been found in "a small number" of chocolate bars sold on a market stall.

Nottinghamshire Police received reports of people falling ill after consuming chocolate bought at Mansfield Market on Saturday.

The force has now said Psilocin - found in magic mushrooms - and THC - a substance found in cannabis - were discovered in some of the bars.

A 63-year-old woman was arrested in connection with the case.

She has since been bailed.

Police are investigating along with Mansfield District Council and the FSA

Ch Insp Chris Sutcliffe said: "Forensic testing has been carried out of the chocolate recovered by police, with the majority showing no traces of drugs or anything out of the ordinary.

"Quantities of the hallucinogenic drug Psilocin and THC - a substance found in cannabis - were discovered in a small number of the bars, however.

"The small number of people who became unwell after eating the chocolate have all now fully recovered.

"It is really important that anyone who still has any of this chocolate hands it into the police immediately so that it can be further analysed."

He added police were confident only a small batch of the bars was affected and there was no evidence to suggest it was more widely distributed.

Tina Potter, head of incidents, Food Standards Agency, said: "We are working with local authorities, the UK Health Security Agency and Nottinghamshire Police to investigate an incident following reports of illness after eating chocolate bought from Mansfield Market in Nottinghamshire.

"The chocolate was both labelled as 'Cali-Gold' and unbranded.

"If you have purchased chocolate matching this description, it should not be consumed but instead handed in to the police."

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