Health officials in the United Kingdom are warning customers to throw away certain Jolly Rancher candies due to ingredients that may increase the risk of cancer.
The candies, made by the Hershey Company, include Jolly Rancher Hard Candy, Jolly Rancher Misfits Gummies, Jolly Rancher Hard Candy Fruity 2 in 1, and Jolly Rancher Berry Gummies, the Food Standards Agency, a government department in the United Kingdom, said.
The Jolly Rancher candies were sold in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, the agency said in the announcement on Wednesday, June 11.
The products contain mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) and mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH), which violate UK laws, thus making the candies unsafe to consume, according to the agency.
“Food businesses who import these products are advised to discontinue import and distribution of products,” the agency said. “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.”
Have the Jolly Rancher candies been removed in the UK?
The Hershey Company has removed the products from the UK market, the Food Standards Agency said. Previously in 2024, the Hershey Company tried to remove unsafe products from UK markets and decided not to sell the products in the country going forward, the agency said.
However, some businesses continued to import the products, so the agency has asked authorities in the UK to remove the products in order to protect customers.
When contacted by USA TODAY on Thursday, June 12, a spokesperson for the Hershey Company commented on whether the UK’s alert could affect the sale of Jolly Rancher candies in the U.S.
According to the spokesperson’s statement, the safety and quality of Jolly Rancher products are the company’s first priority, and “consumers can rest assured that our products are safe to enjoy.” Since the Hershey Company is a global brand, customers can sometimes buy products in markets other than those the products were produced in, the spokesperson added.
“In such cases, we cannot guarantee that the products meet the regulatory requirements of the end market, which may differ from those of the US,” the statement reads. “We encourage consumers to purchase all Hershey products from established retailers to ensure product integrity and compliance. In the meantime, we’re continuing to work closely with the FSA in the United Kingdom on these important issues and look forward to bringing Jolly Rancher products back to established retailers soon.”
A pile of Jolly Ranchers candy pictured on July 12, 2023.
What threats do mineral oils pose?
The Food Standards Agency said that customers who have eaten the candy have likely had low exposure to the harmful ingredients. However, eating the candy is a “toxicological concern, especially in younger age groups and where consumers eat a lot of the products or eat them regularly.”
Mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) have the potential to increase the risk of cancer if consumed in high quantities over a prolonged period of time, the agency said.
It is a genotoxic carcinogen, meaning it can induce cancers by directly impacting DNA, and even at low levels, some damage to genetic material may increase the chance of developing cancer, per the Centre for Food Safety in Hong Kong.
“We are asking enforcement authorities to make immediate contact with businesses who may have been supplied with or received the affected products, and to take action to ensure that the non-compliant and potentially unsafe products are withdrawn from the market and where sold at retail, recalled,” the Food Standards Agency said.
What should UK customers do with Jolly Rancher candies?
Customers in the UK should not buy the products, the Food Standards Agency said, adding that if they’ve eaten them, “there should be no immediate cause for concern, as food safety risk is low, but don’t eat any more.”
UK customers should get rid of the candies, and if they are concerned, notify their Trading Standards department or their environmental health department where they purchased the items.
“These products contain mineral oil, which isn’t allowed in food in the UK and may pose a food safety risk if consumed regularly over a sustained period of time,” the agency said.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jolly Rancher candies deemed unsafe in UK over cancer concerns
