Zarbee’s class action alleges children’s melatonin contains higher dosage than advertised

Zarbee’s children’s melatonin class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: Krystal Lopez filed a class action lawsuit against Zarbee’s Inc. 
• Why: Lopez claims Zarbee’s systematically misrepresents and understates the amount of melatonin its supplements contain, including in those specifically marketed for children. 
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court. 

Zarbee’s systematically misrepresents and understates the amount of melatonin in supplements, including many which are specifically marketed for young children, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

Plaintiff Krystal Lopez claims melatonin products manufactured by Zarbee’s—and sold at major retailers such as Kroger, Target, and Walmart—have a much higher dose per serving of melatonin than what the company states on its labeling. 

Lopez argues the alleged mislabeling is misleading to consumers, results in them being overcharged for Zarbee’s melatonin supplement products, and endangers the health of children who take them. 

“When a consumer picks up a bottle of Zarbee’s Melatonin, they reasonably expect that it actually has the dosage for which Zarbee’s designed the recommended serving,” states the Zarbee’s class action. 

Lopez wants to represent a nationwide Class and multistate consumer protection subclass of all persons who have purchased Zarbee’s melatonin during the applicable statute of limitations. 

Lab testing allegedly shows Zarbee’s melatonin supplements contain higher-than-labeled dose

No “reasonable consumer,” Lopez argues, would expect a melatonin supplement product to have a “random and substantial overdose of melatonin, compared to what it is supposed to have.” 

Despite this, Lopez claims that testing on multiple bottles of Zarbee’s melatonin products by a university mass-spectrometry laboratory revealed their actual melatonin levels were “substantially” and “seemingly randomly” overdosed. 

Lopez alleges her bottle of Zarbee’s in particular—which she says was included in the mass-spectrometry laboratory testing—was found to contain 216% of its claimed melatonin amount. 

Lopez claims Zarbee’s is guilty of unjust enrichment and intentional misrepresentation, among other things, and in violation of several state consumer protection acts and California’s False Advertising Law and Unfair Competition Law. 

Plaintiff is demanding a jury trial and requesting injunctive relief along with punitive damages for herself and all Class Members. 

A separate class action lawsuit was filed against Zarbee’s last year over claims the company misrepresented one of its cough syrups marketed towards children as “natural.”

Have you purchased a Zarbee’s melatonin supplement product? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiff is represented by Jonas B. Jacobson and Simon Franzini of Dovel & Luner, LLP. 

The Zarbee’s Children’s Melatonin Class Action Lawsuit is Lopez v. Zarbee’s Inc., Case No. 5:22-cv-04465, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Teva agrees to $4.35B settlement to end opioid lawsuits
• Nature Made class actions alleges extra strength vitamin C products do not contain higher dose
• West Virginia opioid lawsuit decided in favor of drug distributors
• Dollar General class action alleges lidocaine patches don’t stick as advertised