Several US Jolly rancher candies unsafe to devour, FSA says

Plenty of merchandise from a logo of US candies are “unsafe to eat” and comprise components that might injury DNA and building up the danger of most cancers, the Food Standards Agency has warned.

UK companies and shoppers are being advised to prevent purchasing and promoting the Jolly Rancher merchandise, owned by way of US company Hershey.

The FSA says they comprise chemicals – mineral oil fragrant hydrocarbons (MOAH) and mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) – which are “not compliant with UK laws”.

A spokesperson for Hershey mentioned the protection of Jolly Rancher was once its “first priority”, regardless that it would now not at all times ensure that merchandise produced in america would meet the regulatory necessities of different nations.

The FSA mentioned the Jolly Rancher merchandise pose a security possibility if fed on frequently through the years however there’s “no immediate cause for concern, as [the] food safety risk is low”.

In a meals alert printed on Wednesday night, the FSA mentioned: “MOAH can cause damage to DNA and has the potential to increase the risk of cancer, particularly if consumed in high quantities over a prolonged period of time.

“MOAH is a genotoxic carcinogen, due to this fact no publicity is with out possibility to human well being.”

MOAH and MOSH are used in confectionery to prevent stickiness and create a glossy appearance.

According to the agency, The Hershey Company has been working with the UK government body to remove the affected Jolly Rancher products from the UK market since 2024, but some businesses in Britain have continued to import the products.

The affected products are: Jolly Rancher Hard Candy, Jolly Rancher ‘Misfits’ Gummies, Jolly Rancher Hard Candy Fruity 2 in 1, and Jolly Ranchers Berry Gummies.

The FSA is advising people who have any of the listed products to not eat them and dispose of them at home. If consumers have any concerns, they are being asked to notify the Trading Standards department or environmental health department in the local authority they made the purchase from.

The agency said it was asking enforcement authorities to make “quick touch” with businesses that had been supplied with or received any of the products, and take action to ensure they were withdrawn from the market.

The spokesperson for Hershey said: “The protection and high quality of Jolly Rancher is our first precedence, and shoppers can relaxation confident that our merchandise are protected to experience.”

They urged all consumers to purchase Hershey products from “established outlets” to “be certain product integrity and compliance”.