Lazy Cakes, Kush Cakes, and Lulia Pies are just a few of the
dessert or snack products on the market laced with the sleeping hormone
Melatonin. Tobacco companies producing
these products promote them as stress relievers for adults; however, the packaging
indicates otherwise. A sleepy-eyed
cartoon is the “mascot” for many of these brownies attracting children not only
by the cartoon, but also by the tasty treat.
Consumers of the brownies are instructed to eat half a brownie twice a
day to relieve stress. Each half brownie
contains 4 mg of melatonin. In Europe,
where it is prescribed regularly as a sleep aid, only 0.03 mg is considered a
dose. This amount is also the maximum
recommended for children under 15. While
overdosing on melatonin is rare, it is possible. Because melatonin has been shown to affect
blood pressure, drop body temperature, and interfere with other drugs like
birth control pills and prescription sleep aids and HIV drugs, it is likely
that large doses of melatonin will cause health problems for children. The FDA is trying to obtain regulation of
these brownies as they are considered “food” by some instead of dietary
supplements as the producers say. In one
case in California in 2011, the tobacco companies won the court hearing against
the plaintiff as the judge told lawyers after the hearing, “Plaintiff fails to
demonstrate a reasonable person would been deceived about the melatonin content
and potential side effect of Lazy Cakes.”
The judge also noted, “It is undisputed that the packaging on the
product accurately disclosed the quantity of melatonin in each serving as well
as the relevant serving size [and] that the product contained a disclaimer of
the potential to cause drowsiness.” The
issue here lies on those paying attention to the nutrition label that the brownie
contains multiple serving sizes. This
will be very interesting to see what direction these lawsuits will take.
Emily QL
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