Bob Marley's Mellow Mood Sickens Students
A Bob Marley drink being sold at a New Jersey middle school of all places is being blamed for sickening several students. Parents may be wondering why the school was selling the drink in the first place, as it is not intended for children.
The drink called Marley's Mellow Mood contains ingredients such as Valerian root and is designed to reduce stress and relieve tension of the consumer, reports New York's WINS radio. There is a warning label on the drink that says some ingredients may cause drowsiness, and that the product is intended for adults.
Apparently undeterred by those warnings, Satz Middle School and Holmdel High School in New Jersey decided to sell the drink to students.
While it's unclear how severely the students were sickened, there are reports that multiple middle school students fell ill last Friday after drinking Marley's Mellow Mood.
As a result, the district has pulled the drink from its schools. The superintendent even issued a statement saying that the product did not go through the approval process required for new products, which has prompted an investigation of the school's food service provider, according to WINS. An on-site manager has also been removed pending the investigation.
The sale of an unapproved adult drink at the New Jersey school is especially concerning, given recent reports of young people's deaths allegedly linked to caffeinated energy drinks that were also not intended for children.
Parents of sickened children may be considering legal action against the school. Schools are typically responsible for ensuring the safety of children under their care. While the school is not an insurer against all injury, the school district should make certain to take reasonable steps to protect the welfare of students. One would assume this would include not selling beverages that are not intended for children.
Related Resources:
- Bob Marley Drink Pulled From NJ Schools: 5 Things To Know About Mellow Mood Beverage (International Business Times)
- Monster Energy Drinks Tied to 5 Deaths? (FindLaw's Injured)
- Death by Coca-Cola: 2-Gallon-a-Day Habit Cited (FindLaw's Injured)