A worker from Ronald McDonald House is recovering in the hospital after accidentally consuming methamphetamine disguised as a lolly. The nonprofit organisation provides support and accommodation for families with children in the hospital. Two families at their Auckland facility received the lollies in food parcels from the Auckland City Mission, but fortunately, none of the families consumed them. The worker fell ill after ingesting the sweets and was promptly taken to the hospital, where they are now recovering.
The Auckland City Mission revealed that around 428 people might have received food parcels containing these dangerous lollies. So far, police have recovered 31 blocks of methamphetamine disguised as Rinda-branded lollies, with more possibly still in circulation. The lollies were donated by an unknown individual in a sealed retail-sized bag. A recipient of one of the food parcels raised the alarm after noticing a “funny” taste.
The Drug Foundation highlighted the extreme danger, noting that the lollies contained a massive overdose of methamphetamine, enough to be lethal. The police are actively working to recover the remaining lollies and have already secured 13 across Auckland. They are also investigating a report of someone trying to sell one of the lollies on Facebook Marketplace.
At least four people, including children, have sought medical attention, though only the charity worker required hospitalization. The situation has sparked widespread concern, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon calling it “incredibly, deeply concerning.” He urged the public to be vigilant and check what they are feeding their children, while police continue their investigation into how these dangerous lollies ended up in food parcels.
Please take the following steps:
- Do not consume the lollies and make sure they are out of reach of others in your household.
- Contact the Police immediately at 111 and mention file number 240813/5919 so they can arrange to retrieve the lollies.
- If you or anyone else has already consumed one of these lollies and is feeling unwell, seek medical attention immediately. You can also call the national poison line at 0800 764 766 for further advice.
It’s important to handle this carefully to avoid any potential risks.
