What the phrase usually means
The mushrooms most often listed (lion’s mane, chaga, reishi, cordyceps, maitake, turkey tail) aren’t psychogenic, according to CDC’s investigators (Michienzi et al., 2024). A blend of them shouldn’t make you feel high.
“Proprietary blend” or “nootropic blend” without amounts means the label doesn’t tell you what’s providing the effect, if anything.
What tested products with these labels contained
| Label | Found by the lab |
|---|---|
| “Mushroom nootropic”, caffeine, lion’s mane, chaga, reishi (Diamond Shruumz, two flavours) | Psilocin (Michienzi et al., 2024) |
| Lion’s mane, reishi and cordyceps extracts, “proprietary microdosed nootropic blend” | Δ9-THC and other cannabinoids (van Breemen et al., 2025) |
| “Mushroom blend extract” | Synthetic tryptamines mipracetin and 4-HO-DET (van Breemen et al., 2025) |
| 250 mg blend of 10 culinary and functional mushrooms | Psilocin (van Breemen et al., 2025) |
| “Magic Mushroom Microdose Blend” / “Proprietary Nootropic Mushroom Blend” (TRE House) | 4-AcO-DET, and 4-AcO-DMT in most products (CDPH, 2025) |
| Lion’s mane, reishi, cordyceps, maitake, turkey tail, hemp extract (Tryp) | Nothing from the lab’s screening library (Michienzi et al., 2024) |
The last row matters too. Some products with these labels contain what they say. The label just can’t tell you which kind you’re holding.
Sources
- Michienzi A, Hamlin J, Farah R, Bazydlo L. Notes from the Field: Schedule I Substances Identified in Nootropic Gummies Containing Amanita muscaria or Other Mushrooms - Charlottesville, Virginia, 2023-2024. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2024;73(28):628-630.
Blue Ridge Poison Center (Virginia) managed five people evaluated after eating gummies labelled as containing Amanita muscaria (Sept 2023–June 2024), including a 3-year-old who was hospitalised. Investigators bought six packages of five brands from gas stations and smoke shops; four of six contained unlabelled psilocybin or psilocin, with caffeine, ephedrine, mitragynine (kratom) and DMT among other unlabelled findings.
- van Breemen RB, Simchuk D, Fritzsche B, Huson D, Kuzdzal SA, Ferguson J. Active Constituents of Psilocybin Mushroom Edibles. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(9):e2531345.
Tested 12 'magic mushroom' edibles (11 gummies, 1 chocolate) bought at retail shops in Portland, Oregon. None contained psilocybin. Eight contained active ingredients not disclosed on the label: psilocin (3), synthetic tryptamines mipracetin and 4-HO-DET (2), caffeine (1), kava extract (1) and cannabis extract including Δ9-THC (1). Four had no active ingredient detected. Muscimol and muscarine, listed on one label, were not detected in any product.
- California Department of Public Health. CDPH Warns Consumers Not to Eat TRE House Brand Magic Mushroom Gummies, Chocolate Bars, and Syrup (NR25-024). December 11, 2025.
CDPH laboratory testing found 4-AcO-DET in all listed TRE House products and 4-AcO-DMT in most. Products were labelled with a 'Magic Mushroom Microdose Blend' and 'Proprietary Nootropic Mushroom Blend'. More than 1,000 lb of gummies were embargoed and destroyed. No illnesses had been reported at the time.