NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Wednesday ordered an immediate halt in sales of nicotine-laced lollipops and lip balm over the Internet.

The agency ordered three pharmacies to stop Internet sales of "nicotine lollipops" and "nicotine lip balm" because the products contain a drug substance that has not been approved by the FDA. The Internet pharmacies had been wrongly dispensing the products without a doctor's prescription, according to the agency.

The lollipops could be mistaken for candy, posing a risk to children in particular, the FDA warned. and noted the amount of nicotine potentially could be dangerous to a small child.

The firms notified by the FDA are Bird's-Hill Pharmacy, Ashland Drug and Compounding Pharmacy.

Ashland Drug claimed the lollipops "are a convenient, tasty way to replace your cigarette habit and help you quit smoking." The company told CNNfn it will no longer sell the products until it gets further guidance from the FDA.

Besides being sugar-free and containing natural sweeteners, the lollipops are made of nicotine salicylate and have a range of dosages from 0.5 milligrams to 4 milligrams.

The FDA requested a response from the pharmacies within 15 days detailing actions the companies implemented to stop marketing the products.