Irish shoppers warned after prescription only substance found in popular supplements

Irish shoppers are being urged to check their supplements after a recall was issued for several gummy products found to contain melatonin.

16:23, 29 May 2026

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Melatonin is a prescription only medication in Ireland (stock)(Image: PA Archive/PA Images)

Irish shoppers are being urged to check their supplements after safety chiefs issued a warning about certain products containing melatonin - a substance that is only available on prescription in Ireland.

The alert, issued by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today, is for a number of Jelly Pills food supplement gummies found to contain melatonin, a medicinal product that should only be taken under the guidance of a medical professional.

Retailers and online sellers have been instructed to remove the affected products from sale, while consumers are advised not to consume them.

Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the body to regulate sleep-wake cycles, and it is commonly prescribed in low doses to help with sleep disorders, jet lag or other medical conditions.

While widely available over the counter in some countries, in Ireland it is controlled as a prescription medication due to potential side effects, interactions with other medicines and risks associated with inappropriate use.

The affected products include a number of gummies, with all batch codes and best before dates impacted. They are:

Jelly Pills Health, Deep Sleep, fiber-based gummies; Ashwagandha, Vitamin B6, Melatonin Triptophan - 70 gummies
Jelly Pills Essentials, Melatonin + Vitamin B6; fiber-based gummies - 60 gummies
Jelly Pills Essentials, Melatonin + Vitamin B6; fiber-based gummies - 70 gummies

The FSAI explained: "In Ireland, melatonin is a prescription only medication, which is not authorised in food and should only be taken under medical supervision.

[Jelly Pills food supplements]

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Jelly Pills food supplements(Image: FSAI)

"The above Jelly Pills food supplements contain melatonin, a medicinal product which should only be taken when prescribed by a medical professional. In Ireland, melatonin is regulated as a medicinal product when authorised by the Health Products Regulatory Authority and it is not permitted in food supplements available on the Irish market.

"Retailers and online sellers are requested to remove the implicated products from sale. Wholesalers / distributors are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated products and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retail customers.

"Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated products."

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