Durbin raises concerns over melatonin baked goods
— published: 05-19-2011Food Safety News is reporting that Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has asked the FDA to clarify its regulatory position on dietary supplements and food additives on the back of widespread concerns about the marketing of melatonin-containing baked goods. A recent HPRC Performance News post notes that there have been questions raised on commercially available products such as Lazy Cakes and Lulla Pies that are marketed as "relaxation" brownies - which contain high doses of the sleep aid melatonin.
These products are being sold as dietary supplements to help people relax
and fall asleep, rather than foods containing additives. Senator Durbin contends that these foods are being sold as dietary supplements but are really foods containing a dietary ingredient additive, which would require FDA approval. He has asked U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Margaret
Hamburg to see if she has the authority "to oversee the safety of foods
containing dietary supplement additives."
