Thirteen Children Hospitalized After Consuming Contaminated Chocolate

Thirteen campers between the ages of 10 and 13 were rushed for emergency care in East Orange, New Jersey, after ingesting chocolate suspected of being laced with hallucinogenic mushrooms. The incident at the North Arlington Avenue YMCA left the children unresponsive and detached, prompting a swift intervention by local authorities.

Editorial·July 26, 2026·reads: 681

The situation unfolded shortly after 11:00 am when a single camper reported feeling ill after eating a piece of chocolate shared by a peer. Within minutes, the effects rippled through the group, causing 12 additional children to exhibit similar symptoms. Parents described the scene as unsettling, with one mother, Cynthia Cunningham, noting that the children appeared to be in a zombie-like state.

Emergency responders stabilized most of the children on-site, though one camper was transported to University Hospital due to a pre-existing health condition. East Orange Police Chief Phyllis Bindi confirmed that detectives are currently tracing how a minor obtained the substances and whether criminal charges are warranted. The YMCA stated that staff activated emergency protocols immediately upon noticing the adverse reactions, notifying both parents and law enforcement. Investigators are now urging parents to discuss the dangers of accepting food or candy from peers to prevent future incidents.