New Jersey School Children Sick After Drinking Marley Mellow Mood
Officials have removed Marley Mellow Mood from Holmdel Township, NJ, school amid reports of children getting sick after drinking consuming the "anti-anxiety" beverage.
The drink named after reggae icon Bob Marley contains valerian root and chamomile and is said to reduce stress, reported The Associated Press.
The drinks were sold at the cafeterias in Satz and Holmdel High School in New Jersey. Students complained of lethargy, nausea. Children added that they felt weird after drinking the beverage and slept for hours on end.
"It was like a zombiefest," one student told MYFOXNY.COM.
The drink manufacturer, Marley Beverage Company, said that they were saddened by the news of the students falling ill after consuming their products. The company added that the product isn't meant for children.
"Our packaging clearly states that Marley's Mellow Mood is not intended for consumption by children," the company said in a statement.
The company also said that Chartwells School Dining Services have acknowledged that they are responsible for food and beverage selection that are sold in the cafeteria at W.R. Satz.
Chartwells administers the food and beverage supply across various schools in the state. The company said that it has now removed its on-site manager after the incident, Asbury Park Press reported.
"We called for an immediate and thorough investigation by Chartwells," said Superintendent Barbara Duncan, reported Holmdel-Hazlet Patch."Chartwells cooperated with our request, reacted quickly and identified the issues at hand. We were informed that Marley's was a new product that did not go through the approval process required for all new products."