LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!
The news that didn't quite make the headlines. This week: Massachusetts tries to ban Lazy Cakes, women get a seat at the hot-dog-eating contest and the pork chopper bill gets passed in Texas.
Dinner Party Download
Kai Ryssdal: This final note on the way out today. Something we could all probably use more of on a Friday: a chance to get away from the big news and catch up on stuff that didn't quite make the headlines. It comes to us courtesy of Rico Gagliano, Brendan Francis Newnam and the rest of the Marketplace staff.
Brendan Newnam: Nancy Farghalli, editor for Marketplace. What story are you going to be talking about this weekend?
Nancy Farghalli: The state of Massachusetts is trying to prohibit Lazy Cakes from being sold in its state.
Newnam: What are Lazy Cakes?
Farghalli: Basically brownies laced with melatonin. Kids are eating the brownies and they're falling asleep and then having to go to the hospital.
Newnam: Whoa. So these are like the opposite of Red Bull?
Farghalli: Very much so. You want to drink Red Bull to keep you up, and then you want to have Lazy Cakes to bring you down.
Newnam: Why don't people just have food that feeds them? Like why do they expect more?
Farghalli: Because we're multi-taskers. I want my food to feed me, clothe me and make me go to bed.
Newnam: How about a candy bar that would, like, edge my lawn?
Farghalli: Of course.
Should Lazy Cakes Brownies Be Banned?
May 19, 2011 01:50 PM EDT
Lazy Cakes Relaxation Brownies, something that sounds like the perfect idea, may be a thing of the past in several cities across the U.S. if city officials have their way. The Memphis-based company produces the brownies and sells them in several areas, including Massachusetts where the mayors of New Bedford and Fall River want a ban placed on them according to WREG News.
Lazy Cakes contain Melatonin, an ingredient that induces sleep, and is prescribed usually in quantities of .3 milligrams. The problem is that Lazy Cake Brownies contain about 24 times that amount, an amount which can be hazardous to children. Company CEO Terry Harris stated, "Each Brownie is clearly labeled to indicate that we recommend that Lazy Cakes be enjoyed by adults only. We encourage parents to check the label before providing this or any product to their children." Most think this warning is not enough, because as most people know, children are not apt to read the package.
In a world where people start their morning by gulping down energy drinks laced with caffeine and sugar and then eat brownies containing Melatonin for relaxation at night, can we expect our children to not look for a quick fix? The company recommends placing the brownies in the area of adult dietary supplements and energy shots, but that would need buyers and sellers to be responsible. That just may be too much to ask. After all, that would require common sense.
