You’ve reached the end of a long day (or week) and finally crawl into bed and get comfy…then struggle to sleep. Around 14.5% of U.S. adults report they “had trouble falling asleep most days or every day in the 30 days,” according to past national data. More recent numbers since the pandemic suggest it’s closer to one-third.

Maybe you’ve noticed calming teas such as chamomile or valerian root have become common on store shelves and online. If you’re a customer of a company that’s been buzzy in the wellness space, a newly released report suggests that nightly mug might not have been all relaxing, after all.

On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that 5,888 units of Herbalife Nutrition’s Relaxation Tea have been recalled nationwide by Herbalife International of America in Los Angeles, CA. The agency says the tea was distributed via online sales in the U.S., as well as in Mexico and Ecuador.

The FDA says the recall, currently listed as “ongoing,” went into effect because “Incorrect ingredient was received from supplier and used in manufacturing finished product Relaxation Tea.” The report does not further explain what the incorrect ingredient was. A product page available on the Herbalife website states their Relaxation Tea has no added caffeine (though “We cannot claim ‘caffeine-free’ or ‘no caffeine’ since that would require the testing of each lot,” says the Relaxation Tea product page) and is “a specifically formulated herbal blend of Lemon Balm, Passionflower, Lavender and Chamomile to help support relaxation.” The ingredients list on the label online additionally list extract from the stevia leaf as a sweetener, extract from peppermint and spearmint, and maltodextrin, which can be used as a preservative.

With a listed serving size of a “rounded 1/4 teaspoon” and based on similar product descriptions, it appears the Relaxation Tea may be sold in a canister and is said to contain 60 servings. Product details from the FDA report include:

  • Herbalife Nutrition Relaxation Tea
  • Net Weight: 1.69 OZ (48g)
  • UPC: L044KUS0A-00
  • Lot #: D925507J02
  • Expiration Date: 04/11/2027

The FDA notes the recall was first initiated on July 18. More understanding of the risk is for now unclear as it appears the recall has not yet been classified. The FDA typically assigns a classification to recall events to help convey risk levels involved with specific recalled products.

In 2016, Herbalife agreed to pay $200 million and restructure their U.S. business operations after the Federal Trade Commission charged that the company had “deceived consumers into believing they could earn substantial money selling diet, nutritional supplement, and personal care products.” Currently Herbalife’s website calls the company a “network marketing company,” explaining: “This means that independent Herbalife distributors buy our products and sell them to a network of customers for a profit.”

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Molly Jasinski
Molly Jasinski has worked as a writer, editor and social media manager for almost 15 years. She previously worked as an editor for the magazine Birds & Blooms. She’s also held other positions at Trusted Media Brands, working on direct-to-consumer books, editing special interest publications, and assisting with digital production and social me...
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Molly Jasinski