‘Lazy Cakes’ Brownies Made to Help You Relax Are Controversial

According to Time Magazine Healthland's website, Lazy Cakes brownies are under attack to be taken off store shelves due to the fact that they are targeted towards adults, but could attract younger buyers. Lazy Cakes are brownies that contain the sleep aid melatonin and are said to help one relax.

Lazy Cakes contain 8mg of melatonin, and other herbs and supplements that are a natural sleep aid. Melatonin by itself is a supplement that is 'legal' as long as it is sold in a pill form. The manufacturers of Lazy Cakes are not selling the brownies as a food item, but marketing them as a supplement themselves.

Dr. Charles Czeisler, head of sleep medicine Brigham and Women's Hospital, told the New York Times:

"It sounds to me like they are trying to claim that the entire brownie is like a tablet, which is, of course, preposterous."

The brownies contain 8mg of melatonin, which is only 2mg away from the dosage that can make a full grown adult abruptly fall asleep. The manufacturer uggests that people take half a brownie twice a day to relax and combat stress.  Although targeted at adults, the character on the front of the packages, a 'half-baked' looking brownie name 'Lazy Larry, could attract kids and teens to want to buy the brownies.

Dr. Caroline Apovian, director of the Nutrition and Weight Management Center at Boston Medical Center told the Boston Herald:

"Children are attracted to brownies, I don't think it's appropriate to put herbal things that are actually drugs in brownies or food items that are attractive to children. I think that's heinous."

What are your thoughts on the subject? Should this product be sold in stores where a child or younger person could purchase them? Currently they are sold in 7-Elevens, Wallgreens, and head shops that sell drug paraphernalia.