Health officials are calling for stricter restrictions to stop food businesses being able to import and sell Jolly Ranchers, after the sweets were found to contain toxic chemicals found in petrol.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued an urgent alert after the American sweets manufactured by The Hershey Company were found to contain Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons, (MOAH), making them unsafe to eat.
It cautioned: ‘Food businesses selling these products in the UK are advised to immediately stop sales, undertake product withdrawals and, where there have been retail sales, to undertake product recalls.’
The warning includes Hard Candy, ‘Misfits’ Gummies, Hard Candy Fruity 2 in 1, and Berry Gummies, Filled Pops, and Freeze Dried Candy.
It comes after health officials banned the sweets last year due to concerns they contain ingredients linked to cancer.
These chemicals, derived from crude oil, have been linked to serious illnesses including cancer, particularly in the liver and lymph nodes.
This makes the sweets unsafe to eat, particularly over long periods of time, and not compliant with UK law.
Whilst the food watchdog said there is ‘no immediate cause for concern for consumers that have eaten these products’, MOAH is a known carcinogen and may pose a significant safety risk if consumed regularly.
UK businesses and consumers are being urged to stop buying and selling the Jolly Rancher products, owned by US firm Hershey
It continued: ‘Although the levels consumers are exposed to are likely to be low, they may present a risk to health because they contain MOAH.
‘Consumption of the affected sweets is of toxicological concern, especially in younger age groups and where consumers eat a lot of the products or eat it regularly.’
According to the agency, The Hershey Company has been working with the FSA and the UK government to remove unsafe products from UK markets since 2024, but other businesses continue to import and supply the products to the UK market.
