Parents Urged to Discard Children’s Nutritional Gummies over Harmful Side Effects
Parents and caregivers are being warned to immediately stop giving children Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies after tests revealed they contain an undeclared prescription-only medicine.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) confirmed that two batches of the gummies were found to contain melatonin, a hormone used to treat certain sleep disorders.
Each gummy contained between 1.5mg and 1.7mg of melatonin, a level above the recommended starting dose for children. The ingredient was not declared anywhere on the packaging.
Although melatonin occurs naturally in the body, synthetic versions are only available on prescription in the UK for specific cases. Unsupervised use carries the risk of side effects, including headache, dizziness, abdominal pain, and excessive drowsiness.
The MHRA has urged parents to dispose of the product safely and has taken steps to remove it from sale online.
Dr Alison Cave, the agency’s chief safety officer, stressed that while no serious effects were observed in studies, children may still experience adverse reactions and should be seen by a healthcare professional if concerns arise.
This case highlights the vital importance of transparency, regulation, and accountability in children’s health products. Every child has the right to safe, reliable healthcare, a right that must never be compromised.
