NYC Health Department Says No To CBD Additives

New York’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has ordered popular restaurants and bars to stop serving all CBD-infused edibles. The chemical, CBD, has not been deemed safe for consumption by the FDA. Therefore, it cannot be legally used as an additive in foods and beverages.

CBD-Infused Business in NYC

Ian Forde, who owns a restaurant in NYC, claimed his business soared when he introduced CBD-infused coffee and tea. He takes pride in being one of the first businesses in New York to offer customers CBD-infused drinks.  Now with this crackdown, he expects a visit from health inspectors’ any day. He is unsure what would happen if he stops selling his best-sellers.

While Forde respects the law, he finds it conflicting. If it is legal to buy it and stick it on your tongue why is it illegal to buy it and stick it in your coffee?

The Health Department Speaks

The health department stated that its actions are necessary since the FDA has not approved CBD as safe to consume. Therefore, it is not a federally approved additive. So far, 9 restaurants have received letters. The remaining two in Manhattan are yet to be served. It seems like this precedent will soon become a trend with other states like Maine and Ohio soon joining the bandwagon.

CBD’s Popularity

CBD has gained popularity with celebrities attesting to its benefits. They claim it helps them with anxiety, insomnia, and pain among other ailments. However, limited research on its effects on humans makes it difficult to support these claims. This has not stopped businesses which have been capitalizing on the newest craze. They are producing CBD infused oils and skin creams and the market for these is growing.

Beware of CBD Scammers!

Evio Labs tested 35 products and found that 20 of them contained less than half the amount of CBD advertised. In other cases, some contained none. As such, businesses and consumers should do their research to ensure they purchase from reputable suppliers.

As for the NYC business owners who currently sell CBD-infused or CBD products, the battle is ongoing. It will be this way for some time until the FDA and health department approves CDB as a food additive.