ZaZa Products Face Lawsuit Over Alleged Addictive Ingredient

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit claims ZaZa supplements, including ZaZa Red, ZaZa Silver, and ZaZa White, contain a powerful opioid-like drug called tianeptine, and were deceptively marketed as mood boosters without warning of addiction risks.

Consumers Affected: U.S. consumers who purchased a ZaZa product.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division

A new lawsuit is taking aim at ZaZa, a popular over-the-counter supplement brand, accusing its manufacturer of selling highly addictive products disguised as feel-good mood boosters. 

The lawsuit claims that the supplements, sold under names like ZaZa Red, ZaZa Silver, and ZaZa White, actually contain a powerful opioid-like drug called tianeptine, which can trigger dependence, painful withdrawal symptoms, and serious health risks.

MRSS Inc., the company behind ZaZa, is being sued for deceptive marketing and failing to warn consumers that its supplements act like opioids and carry a significant risk of addiction. The lawsuit also alleges that the company knowingly downplayed the dangers while marketing ZaZa as a harmless way to “feel good” and “be happy.”

Lawsuit Claims Supplements Act Like Opioids, Causing Dependence

The legal action is led by Ronald Bemis of Tinley Park, Illinois, who purchased ZaZa in early 2025 at retail stores in his area. He says he relied on the product labeling, which made no mention of tianeptine or its addictive properties. 

According to the complaint, Bemis, like many others, bought the product thinking it was a standard dietary supplement, not something that could lead to dependence and withdrawal symptoms similar to traditional opioids.

The lawsuit claims that once users start taking ZaZa, they often find themselves unable to stop, with painful withdrawal symptoms pushing them to keep buying more. The legal team is pushing for an injunction to pull ZaZa off the market entirely, arguing that continued sales of the product place consumers at ongoing risk.

Understanding Tianeptine: An Unapproved Opioid-Like Substance

Tianeptine, the ingredient at the heart of the controversy, is not approved for any medical use in the U.S. While used under prescription in some other countries as an antidepressant, it functions as a full opioid receptor agonist, similar to morphine, heroin, and fentanyl, the lawsuit states.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tracked a growing number of tianeptine-related poisonings and overdoses. Users often experience a euphoric high followed by a crash that can lead to compulsive redosing. Withdrawal can involve nausea, confusion, insomnia, and even cardiovascular symptoms, making tianeptine one of the most dangerous “gas station drugs” currently on shelves.

Over-the-Counter Supplement Market Faces Legal Challenges

ZaZa isn’t the only product facing scrutiny for potentially misleading consumers about the ingredients in it over the counter products. Kratom brands like OPMS and Happy Hippo are also the subject of lawsuits alleging they failed to warn users about addictive risks similar to opioids. MIT45 is likewise accused of violating consumer protection laws with misleading claims.

Other lawsuits are targeting e-cigarette company Puff Bar for allegedly marketing to underage users, and marijuana giant Trulieve for reportedly selling edibles with illegal THC levels. 

In his lawsuit against MRSS Inc. Bemis wants to represent anyone in the US who bought a ZaZa product. He is suing for violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act, breach of implied warranty, fraudulent concealment, unjust enrichment, and negligent failure to warn.

Bernis wants an injunction shutting down sales of ZaZa or an order forcing them to provide appropriate and adequate warnings, a full refund to class members of all money spent on the product, fees, costs, and interest.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Bemis v. MRSS Inc.
• Case Number: 1:25-cv-03485-JPB
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division 

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• T. Brandon Waddell  and Annie M. Boring (Caplan Cobb LLC)
• Brittany S. Scott (Smith Krivoshey, PC)

Have you used ZaZa products? What was your experience? Share your thoughts on these allegations below.