“If Olly told the truth-that its dosing and labelling was seriously inaccurate-the price of its products would crater,” the filing argues. Moreover, no mention is made on product labels that actual melatonin dosages may vary, the case adds.įurther, the case says that although Olly states on product labels that it does not recommend for consumers to exceed the amount noted for suggested use, customers are “unknowingly doing exactly what Olly recommends against” given that the products are overdosed.Īccording to the suit, Olly’s false and misleading labeling ultimately “drives the demand” for its melatonin supplements and allows the company to collect a substantial price premium from consumers. The lawsuit contends that Olly’s labeling of its melatonin supplements is false and misleading in that the dosages are “not well-controlled and consistent” with the amounts Olly designed for its recommended servings. The suit relays that the LC-MS testing revealed that the melatonin in each gummy varied substantially from the amount stated on product labels:
scientists warned that this Canadian study ‘herald what may also be true in OTC melatonin supplements marketed in the United States.’ Likewise, the National Institute of Health has warned that ‘some melatonin supplements may not contain what’s listed on the product label.’ And Consumer Reports warned: ‘The findings … offer the latest proof of something supplement industry critics have long warned about: When it comes to this poorly regulated corner of modern medicine, consumers often don’t know what they’re buying.’” Olly test resultsĪccording to the suit, “multiple bottles and types” of Olly melatonin were subjected to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (LC-MS), a scientific process that can accurately measure the true amount of melatonin in a product. Per the suit, scientists and the National Institute of Health warned that the same may be true for melatonin supplements in the United States. For more than 70 percent of the tested brands, the true amount of the neurohormone varied more than 10 percent from the stated amount, while the melatonin content in others “varied highly” between different product lots, the lawsuit says. Specifically, the complaint says that a 2017 study of Canadian melatonin brands found “high variability, ranging from -83% to +478%” of the labeled concentration of melatonin content in certain supplements. When a melatonin supplement is falsely labeled, the case says, lower doses could be ineffective, while higher doses could produce unpleasant and/or unexpected side effects, including headaches, dizziness, nausea, or excessive or unwanted sleepiness.Īccording to the filing, scientists tested Canadian melatonin supplements a few years back and found that, for a number of brands, the true amount of melatonin “varied wildly from the label.” Given that melatonin alters brain chemistry, accurate dosage information is paramount, the complaint relays. Per the case, melatonin is one of the most popular over-the-counter supplements nationwide, and its use has significantly increased over the last two decades. Melatonin is used by millions of consumers to treat sleep problems, anxiety and other ailments, the suit explains. “What reasonable consumer wants to buy a supplement that alters brain chemistry, knowing that it may be randomly and substantially overdosed?” Persistent questions about supplements’ melatonin content The case argues that the Olly supplements at issue are essentially “worthless” without accurate dosing and labeling. “Consumers are being misled, overcharged, and put at risk.” “Olly systematically misrepresents how much melatonin is in the supplements it sells,” the lawsuit alleges. According to the suit, however, the results of testing done on certain Olly bottles, including the Sleep, Immunity Sleep and Extra Strength varieties, alarmingly revealed that all of the products were “substantially (and seemingly randomly) overdosed.” The complaint stresses that because melatonin alters brain chemistry, it is crucial for over-the-counter melatonin supplements to be accurately dosed and labeled.
Be sure to scroll down to see which Olly varieties are mentioned in the lawsuit.
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