Brits issued 'do not eat' warning over 'unsafe' sweets made by huge American brand
Consumption of the affected sweets is of toxicological concern
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued an urgent 'do not eat' warning to anyone who has purchased Jolly Rancher products manufactured by The Hershey Company.
The Jolly Rancher range of sweets is one of the more popular American confectionary products sold in the UK.
According to a public alert published by the FSA, some batches of the product contain Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons (MOAH) and Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons (MOSH) - making them unsafe to eat and not compliant with UK laws.
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, therefore no exposure is without risk to human health.
Food businesses who import these products are advised to discontinue import and distribution.
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 Hershey Company, who is the brand owner, has taken action to remove these products from the UK market.
The FSA states: "The Hershey Company has continued to work collaboratively with the FSA, and despite their proactive action to remove non-compliant and unsafe products from UK markets in 2024, and their subsequent decision not to supply the UK market going forward, other businesses continue to import their product for the UK market.
"The FSA has therefore requested enforcing authorities in the UK to take action to remove products, to protect consumers," they added.
The affected batches are as follows:
Jolly Rancher Hard Candy
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Jolly Rancher ‘Misfits’ Gummies
- Pack size\u0009All pack sizes
- Batch code\u0009All batch codes
- Best before\u0009All dates
Jolly Rancher Hard Candy Fruity 2 in 1
- Pack size\u0009All pack sizes
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- Best before\u0009All dates
Jolly Ranchers Berry Gummies
- Pack size\u0009All pack sizes
- Batch code\u0009All batch codes
- Best before\u0009All dates
Consumers are being told not to buy these products.
If you have bought any of the above products, do not eat them. Instead, dispose of them at home.
If you have already eaten these products, there should be no immediate cause for concern. Food safety risk is low, but don’t eat any more.