I’m sure you can guess what "sleepy brownies" are–no, they aren’t those kind of brownies…but they do have somewhat of a similar effect. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the new brownies that are laced with Melatonin and go by the name "Lazy Larry" are dangerous for consumption. In fact, the FDA sent a warning letter to the manufacturer, HBB LLC, earlier this week stating that they would seize the product from store shelves if HBB continues to make and market them.
Melatonin is a naturally occuring hormone that helps to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. HBB advertises the brownies as a stress reliever and consumers can, indeed, become sleepy after eating one. The FDA does not consider Melatonin to be a safe food additive and argues that the brownies are "adulterated" because they contain it. Furthermore, in its warning letter, the FDA cited medical research that Melatonin can have potential reproductive, cardiovascular, ocular, and neurological side effects.
However, the FDA has less regulatory power over dietary supplements sold in pill form. According to federal laws, supplement manufacturers are responsible for the regulation of their own products. HBB maintains that the "Lazy Larry" brownies are a dietary supplement and that they should be regulated in a similar manner to pills. Similar products have not yet been cited by the FDA, including "Kush Cakes" that advertise on their website that their product is "baked with love and our proprietary blend of all natural ingredients, featuring Melatonin and Valerian root".
