{"id":77476,"date":"2025-08-18T13:13:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T13:13:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/77476\/"},"modified":"2025-08-18T13:13:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T13:13:08","slug":"urgent-warning-as-wellness-product-recalled-over-fears-it-is-laced-with-sleep-drug","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/77476\/","title":{"rendered":"Urgent warning as wellness product recalled over fears it is laced with sleep drug"},"content":{"rendered":"

By EMILY STEARN, SENIOR HEALTH REPORTER<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 08:39 EDT, 18 August 2025 | Updated: 09:00 EDT, 18 August 2025 <\/p>\n

Health officials have urgently recalled a brand of children’s gummies over fears it could be laced with a prescription-only sleeping drug.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

UK medicines watchdog the\u00a0Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) stuck an alert on\u00a0Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies, manufactured by Surrey-based company Nutrition Ignition.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It is believed the raspberry-flavoured wellness supplement contains melatonin, which is not listed anywhere on the product’s packaging.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the body to help regulate the sleep-wake cycle and it can also be prescribed by doctors in the UK for treating sleep problems.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But medics have long sounded the alarm over the number of patients admitted to hospital with alleged melatonin overdoses. It has also been linked to at least two infant deaths.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The MHRA, which published the alert today, said testing of two batches found melatonin levels of between 1.5 and 1.7mg in individual gummies.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The recall impacts all batches of\u00a0Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies and parents should dispose of any remaining product.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer, said: ‘We advise any parent or caregiver to stop use of this product and safely dispose of it.<\/p>\n

\"UK <\/p>\n

UK medicines watchdog the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) stuck an alert on Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies, manufactured by Surrey-based company Nutrition Ignition<\/p>\n

\"Melatonin <\/p>\n

Melatonin gummies are available in China, the US and in some European countries without prescription despite doubts about their long-term safety<\/p>\n

‘Side effects such as headache, hyperactivity, a feeling of dizziness and abdominal pain have been reported in children when melatonin is prescribed and used for its licensed indications.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘Anyone who suspects that their child, or a child in their care, is having a side effect from this product is advised to stop taking it and speak to a healthcare professional and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.’<\/p>\n

The scheme, set up in the 1960s, allows\u00a0doctors, pharmacists and patients themselves to report adverse reactions believed to be caused by prescription and over-the-counter drugs, implants and alternative medicines.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This can lead to them being reviewed, having warnings added to the label or even being taken off the market.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A synthetic version of melatonin is authorised for use on prescription in the UK for adults and children over the age of six with sleep disorders such as insomnia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Melatonin gummies are available in China, the US and in some European countries without prescription despite doubts about their long-term safety.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the UK, however, a hidden market has developed for melatonin gummies, particularly among parents of neurodivergent children.<\/p>\n

US data shows melatonin supplements have also been linked to a 500 percent increase in overdoses in kids over the past decade.<\/p>\n

\"US <\/p>\n

US data shows melatonin supplements have also been linked to a 500 percent increase in overdoses in kids over the past decade<\/p>\n

Sleep experts have previously told the Daily Mail<\/a>\u00a0that demand for the supplement has ‘gotten out of hand’.<\/p>\n

Melatonin has been linked to infant deaths too.\u00a0<\/p>\n

One 2019 study documented two cases\u2014one nine-month-old and one 13-month-old\u2014after blood toxicology tests showed high levels of melatonin in both cases.<\/p>\n

However, there were other factors that may have played a role in both deaths.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The first baby was found co-sleeping with an older sibling, while the second was left in a hot room \u2013 both known risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome (Sids).\u00a0<\/p>\n

Studies in rats and mice have only shown that melatonin may have toxic effects if given in incredibly high doses of more than 400mg.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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