New Zealand Food Bank Apologizes After Handing Out Meth-Laced Candy

A charity in New Zealand accidentally distributed meth-laced candies to people experiencing homelessness.

Auckland City Mission, the organization involved in the mishap, became aware of the matter on Tuesday when several people complained after eating the pineapple-flavored sweets, USA Today reports.

Per the New Zealand Drug Foundation, one of the candies was brought to a drug clinic in Auckland on Tuesday, where it was discovered that it contained 3 grams of methamphetamine.

"A common dose to swallow is between 10-25mg, so this contaminated lolly contained up to 300 doses," said the foundation’s executive director Sarah Helm. "Swallowing that much methamphetamine is extremely dangerous and could result in death."

She added, "we don’t know how widespread these contaminated lollies are, so we recommend not eating any Rinda brand pineapple lollies if you have them."

Symptoms of methamphetamine consumption can include chest pain, heart palpitations, seizures, hyperthermia, delirium, and loss of consciousness, according to the drug foundation.

Auckland City Mission apologized on Wednesday and issued an advisory on their official website.

"We found out that a number of lollies containing methamphetamine were donated by an unknown member of the public to the Mission for distribution," read the brief statement. "The Rinda brand pineapple lollies were in a sealed retail sized package. Distribution then occurred from our food security site."

The charity says that they are "deeply concerned" and that police are currently investigating the matter.