UK food businesses have been urged to cease importing and distributing products from an American candy brand as they are unsafe to eat.
The Food Standards Agency has issued an alert regarding Jolly Rancher products which contain mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) and mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH), ingredients which are not compliant with UK laws.
All packs sizes, batch codes and best before dates of Jolly Rancher Hard Candy, Jolly Rancher ‘Misfits’ Gummies, Jolly Rancher Hard Candy Fruity 2 in 1 and Jolly Rancher Berry Gummies are impacted.
“Food businesses selling these products in the UK are advised to immediately stop sales, undertake product withdrawals and where there have been retail sales, undertake product recalls,” the alert states.
“This is because the products are unsafe and do not meet UK market legal requirements,” it continues.
Jolly Rancher owner The Hershey Company had taken action to remove the impacted products from the UK market, the FSA advised.
It continued to work collaboratively with the FSA. Despite its proactive action to remove non-compliant and unsafe products from UK markets in 2024, and its subsequent decision not to supply the UK market going forward, other businesses continued to import its products for the UK market, the FSA warned.
The FSA has therefore requested enforcing authorities in the UK to take action to remove products, to protect consumers.
The regulatory body has urged consumers not to buy the affected products, or to dispose of them and not eat them if they have already purchased them.
For shoppers who have already eaten the sweets, “there should be no immediate cause for concern, as food safety risk is low, but don’t eat any more”, the FSA advised.
The sweets 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, especially in younger age groups.
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.
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