I’m disappointed that I missed this NYT article that came out a month ago, but in case you haven’t seen it yet: it’s better late than never. Apparently there is a fad burgeoning alongside the caffeine-energy drink boom: soporific foods and drinks. I should have been tipped off to it when I saw the Dream Water advert, but I’m notoriously oblivious to pop culture. The article was specifically on melatonin-enriched brownies (a la magic brownies), available on the market as Lazy Cakes and Lulla Pies. Both products have about 8mg of melatonin per package, which is much larger than the doses prescribed to those with circadian rhythm disorders (0.3 - 3mg). Although labeled adults-only, a few children have been taken to the hospital after eating the brownies and falling into a sudden, deep sleep. The makers are sneakily claiming the brownies to be 'dietary supplements' and not food to avoid FDA regulation. However, they are not surprisingly under scrutiny by several local legislatures and will likely be reviewed by the FDA soon.
Lazy Cakes on NPR
Massachusetts towns try to ban relaxation brownie sales
No comments:
Post a Comment