Half Bak’d Sumo Gummies are high-potency hemp-derived edibles marketed as containing a 420 mg blend of THCA, THCP, and Delta-8 THC per piece. However, independent testing has revealed significant discrepancies between label claims and actual contents, raising serious questions about product accuracy and consumer safety.
Product Overview
The gummies are sold in 25-count jars totaling 10,000 to 10,500 mg of cannabinoids, with flavors including Forbidden Punch, Cotton Candy Swirl, Bluematic Razz, Island Pog, Baja Burst, and Slushie. Vendor pages consistently describe them as designed “for experienced users only” and recommend starting with one-quarter to one-half of a gummy.
Independent Testing Findings
The Institute of Cannabis Science published an analysis in July 2025 of the Forbidden Punch batch that directly contradicted the product label. The label claimed each piece contained 205 mg Delta-8 THC, 200 mg CBD, 10 mg Delta-9 THC, and 5 mg THCP.
The lab measured 68 mg of Delta-9 THC per piece but found zero THCP and zero CBD. The primary psychoactive compound was not Delta-8 as advertised, but Delta-9 THC. The reviewer described the experience as a “waking/sleeping hellscape” that produced a “headachey and uncomfortable” state lasting into the next day.
Separately, vendor-submitted lab results from PharmLabs San Diego for other flavors reported different profiles. For the Slushie batch tested in January 2026, results showed 189.53 mg Delta-8 THC, 248.89 mg CBD, and 5.20 mg THCP per gummy. The Island Pog and Cotton Candy Swirl batches tested in November 2025 showed similar patterns. These discrepancies between the independent test and vendor-submitted results suggest inconsistent manufacturing.
Pediatric Hospitalization Incident
In March 2025, two children aged 3 and 5 in Lambaré, Paraguay were hospitalized after ingesting candies identified as HALF BAK’D SUMMO GUMMIES. The younger child required intubation in pediatric intensive care. Prosecutor Gustavo Alonso confirmed the case was reported by pediatricians at the Hospital de Trauma in Asunción.
The children’s mother was later charged with violation of duty of care and abandonment, as she was not present at the time of the incident. Authorities also investigated possible manipulation of the gummies by adolescents, though that remained unconfirmed.
Regulatory Status
The vendor claims federal hemp compliance based on Delta-9 THC content remaining under 0.3% by mass. However, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2026, signed into law on November 12, 2025, fundamentally changes this framework.
The new law redefines hemp to measure total THC (including Delta-9 THC, THCA, Delta-8 THC, and all THC isomers and analogs) after decarboxylation, effective November 12, 2026. It also excludes from the hemp definition any cannabinoid “synthesized or manufactured outside the plant,” a category that appears to include THCP as commonly produced. Finished consumer products will be limited to 0.4 mg total THC per container, a threshold that virtually all existing intoxicating hemp edibles exceed by orders of magnitude.
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FDA Inspection History
Half Bakery, LLC (doing business as Novella’s) in Springfield, Missouri has five FDA inspections on record. The most recent inspection on May 13, 2026 resulted in a “Clean” outcome with no action indicated. Prior inspections in 2024 were also clean. However, inspections in 2017, 2020, and 2021 produced Form 483 observations.
THCP Pharmacological Context
THCP (tetrahydrocannabiphorol) was discovered in 2019 by Italian researchers and binds to CB1 receptors with approximately 33 times the affinity of Delta-9 THC. Its seven-carbon alkyl side chain, compared to THC’s five-carbon chain, increases its potency.
The Vanderbilt University Medical Center Poison Control has noted clinically observed “more severe and prolonged periods of intoxication from THCP,” including pediatric poisoning requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation for respiratory depression. A case report documented a 48-hour psychotic episode with hallucinations and self-harm attempt after taking just 8 mg of THCP.
Dosing Guidance from Vendors
Vendor product pages uniformly recommend starting with one-quarter to one-half of a gummy and waiting at least one hour before considering more. Given the documented label discrepancies, consumers should be aware that the actual cannabinoid content and resulting effects may differ significantly from what is stated on the package.
What are Half Bak’d Sumo Gummies?
Half Bak’d Sumo Gummies are high-potency hemp-derived edibles marketed as containing 420 mg of a THCA, THCP, and Delta-8 THC blend per piece, with 25-count jars totaling 10,000 mg. Independent testing has revealed significant discrepancies between label claims and actual contents, and a pediatric hospitalization incident has raised safety concerns.
What did independent lab testing reveal about Sumo Gummies?
An Institute of Cannabis Science analysis published in July 2025 of the Forbidden Punch batch found the product did not match its label. The label claimed 205 mg Delta-8 THC and 5 mg THCP per piece, but testing detected 68 mg of Delta-9 THC, zero THCP, and zero CBD. Vendor-submitted lab results for other flavors reported different profiles, suggesting inconsistent manufacturing.
What happened in the Paraguay hospitalization incident?
In March 2025, two children aged 3 and 5 in Lambaré, Paraguay were hospitalized after ingesting candies identified as HALF BAK’D SUMMO GUMMIES. The younger child required intubation in pediatric intensive care. Prosecutor Gustavo Alonso confirmed the case was reported by pediatricians at the Hospital de Trauma in Asunción, and the mother was later charged with violation of duty of care and abandonment.
What is THCP and why does it matter?
THCP (tetrahydrocannabiphorol) is a phytocannabinoid discovered in 2019 by Italian researchers. It binds to CB1 receptors with higher affinity than Delta-9 THC due to its seven-carbon alkyl side chain, compared to THC’s five-carbon chain. A 2024 study in Archives of Toxicology found multiple THC homologs including THCP showed higher potential for CB1 activation than Delta-9 THC.
How does Delta-8 THC potency compare to Delta-9 THC?
A 2025 clinical trial published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence found that acute doses of oral Delta-8 THC produced effects overlapping almost completely with Delta-9 THC, though Delta-8 produced significantly lower magnitude of effects at the same dose. The European Food Safety Authority set a safe intake level in November 2025, applying the same acute reference dose to combined Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC consumption.
