6 children hospitalized after eating candy with ‘unknown substance’ at Lauderhill Boys & Girls Club

Six children were taken to Broward County hospitals from the Lauderhill Boys & Girls Club on Wednesday evening after eating a candy containing an “unknown substance,” Lauderhill Fire Rescue and Lauderhill Police said.

Lauderhill Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Jeff Levy said the children were taken from the club, located at 5455 NW 19th St., to Florida Medical Center in Lauderdale Lakes and Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale in stable condition. The injuries are not life-threatening, Levy said.

Lauderhill Police said in a news release about 9 p.m. Wednesday that officers responded to the club three times between about 3:30 and 6 p.m. after eight children in total ate the “infused” candy. Two of the eight were released to their parents.

According to radio communications archived by the website Broadcastify, a dispatcher said the multiple calls at the club were in reference to “edible gummies.”

What the candy was infused with had not been confirmed as of Wednesday night, the police department said.

“All parents have been notified of this incident and currently there are no concerns for the health of the juveniles,” the release said. There are no charges currently pending, and their investigation is ongoing, police said.

A club spokesperson sent a prepared statement shortly before 9:30 p.m. that said the club is “aware of a health and safety concern” and provided few other details due to the children’s privacy reasons.

The statement said staff “immediately reacted” and authorities and medical personnel arrived quickly.

“The safety and protection of the young people we serve is always our absolute highest priority, and we take any situation that might impact their well-being very seriously,” the statement said.

Emails to the club’s co-CEOs and the communications director were not returned Wednesday evening. Co-CEO Matt Organ did not immediately return a voicemail seeking information; co-CEO Chris Gentile could not be reached by phone.