Jolly Rancher candies pulled from shelves in UK over cancer concerns
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.'
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."
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.
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
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Medscape
2 hours ago
- Medscape
NHS England Extends Cervical Screening to 5 Years for Many
From July, women in England aged 25 to 49 who test negative for human papillomavirus (HPV) will be invited for cervical screening every 5 years instead of every 3 years. NHS England said the updated screening schedule would provide women with a more personalised approach based on individual risk. The change follows a recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee and aligns with the current schedule for women aged 50 to 64 in England, as well as screening programmes in Scotland and Wales. Evidence Supports Longer Interval NHS England highlighted that studies have shown that people who test negative for HPV are extremely unlikely to develop cervical cancer within the next decade. Research led by King's College London and published in The BMJ in 2022 found that 5-yearly screening for HPV-negative women was as safe as 3-yearly screening. The study reported no difference in the number of cancers detected and confirmed that less frequent testing was needed. Women who test positive for HPV, with or without abnormal cell changes, will continue on shorter recall. Those with no cell changes will be invited for re-screening in one year, while HPV-positive women with cell changes will be referred for colposcopy. Women will continue to follow the recall schedule advised at their last screening. Only those screened on or after 1 July and meeting the criteria will move to the 5-year interval. Screening Based on Personal Risk Cervical screening was first launched in the UK in 1964. Since 2019, all cervical screening samples collected in England have been tested for high-risk HPV, which is more accurate than the previous method of cytology testing. Cervical cancer is the 14th most common cancer in the UK, with around 3300 new cases each year – nearly all of which are caused by HPV. Since 2008, girls in school year 8 have been offered a vaccine against certain strains of HPV. The programme was extended to boys in 2019. Evidence shows that the vaccine has reduced cervical cancer rates by 90% in England. In Scotland, there have been no recorded cases among vaccinated women since the schools' programme was introduced for girls in 2008. Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: 'Screening, alongside the roll-out of the HPV vaccine, has seen cervical cancer rates drop by around a quarter since the early 1990s.' Dr Sue Mann, NHS national clinical director for women's health, said: 'Taking a more personalised approach to cervical screening will help ensure everyone eligible can make the most of these life-saving services, while sparing women appointments that they don't need.' Athena Lamnisos, chief executive of The Eve Appeal, said: 'This new guidance is good news for those at low risk, because they will no longer need to go for cervical screening as often.' Digital Reminders Aim to Boost Uptake The NHS has introduced digital invitations and reminders for cervical screening through the NHS App, as part of a new 'ping and book' service to boost uptake. Eligible women will first receive a notification through the app to alert them to book a screening appointment. If not opened, a follow-up text message will be sent. Paper letters will still be used for those who need them. The 2023-2024 NHS Cervical Screening Programme annual report for England found that 68.8% of women aged 25 to 64 were screened within the recommended timeframe, a slight increase from 68.7% the year before. Coverage was highest among women aged 50 to 64 (74.3%) and lowest among those aged 25 to 49 (66.1%). Louise Ansari, chief executive of Healthwatch England, welcomed the move to digital invites. 'Nearly half of the women we polled last year said the ability to book screenings via the app would make them more likely to attend future appointments,' she said.
Entrepreneur
5 hours ago
- Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur UK's London 100: DrDoctor
DrDoctor has become one of the most trusted healthtech partners to the NHS, transforming how millions of patients access and manage their care. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Industry: Healthcare Tom Whicher, CEO and founder of DrDoctor, is driving the shift to hybrid healthcare across the NHS – blending technology with human care. Under Tom's leadership, DrDoctor has become one of the most trusted healthtech partners to the NHS, transforming how millions of patients access and manage their care. Founded in 2012, the company connects fragmented systems across hospitals, community services, and patients to power a hybrid model. Today, DrDoctor manages over 140m appointments for 36m patients and is trusted by more than 70 NHS organisations, covering 64% of the country. It has delivered £100m of value to the health system in the UK. In 2024, Tom launched DrDoctor's Smart Centre, powered by AI – a set of pioneering products that predict which patients are most at risk of missing appointments and dynamically optimises clinic capacity through targeted, automated interventions. Early results have shown that Smart Centre reduces missed appointments by 30%. The team has grown by 45% over the past year to 146 people, fuelled by a £10m investment round led by YFM Equity Partners. With 2023 revenues exceeding £10m and a current valuation of £80m, DrDoctor is delivering both commercial success and system-level change against a backdrop of NHS reform.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Do not eat': Recalls at Lidl, Tesco, Iceland and more UK supermarkets
Products sold at Tesco, Lidl, Iceland and other UK supermarkets have been recalled with 'do not eat' warnings issued by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Recalls have been issued on products for a variety of reasons, including metal being found in a popular supermarket snack, and the risk a breakfast food may contain insects. We have rounded up the ongoing product recalls you should be aware of. If you have bought any of the items mentioned below, you need to be aware of these possible health risks. Lidl is recalling one of its products because it may contain pieces of metal. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned anyone who has purchased the recalled item not to eat it. The recall affects Lidl's Harvest Basket Hash Browns. The impacts hash browns come in packs of 750g, have a best before date of May 24, 2027, and a batch code of 5144L. Thursday 12 June: @LidlGB recalls Harvest Basket Hash Browns because they may contain pieces of metal #FoodAlert — Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) June 12, 2025 An FSA spokesman said: 'Lidl GB is recalling the above product. A point of sale notice will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling this product. 'This notice explains to customers why the product is being recalled and tells them what to do if they have bought the product. 'If you have bought the above product, do not eat it. 'Instead, return it to your nearest store for a full refund. For further information contact customer care on or 0203 966 5566.' Asda, Matalan and Amazon recalls as shoppers told 'stop using them immediately' FSA issues 'do not eat' warning over chocolate that may be a 'food safety risk' 'Do not eat' warning issued as 'unsafe to eat' sweets recalled A Lidl spokesman added: 'If you have bought the above product we advise you not to eat it. 'Customers are asked to return this product to the nearest store where a full refund will be given. 'We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your cooperation.' Shoppers who purchased some Dubai-style chocolate products have been warned the food may not meet Food Standards Agency (FSA) standards. Some of the imported Dubai-style products could pose a risk to consumers with allergies, the food safety watchdog warned. Those with food allergies should be careful when buying the popular chocolate as some imported products may not be intended for sale in the UK and could lack a full ingredients list or allergen labelling, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said. The watchdog said it had identified a number of products that posed a health risk to consumers with allergies. Some of these products may also contain additives and colours which are not allowed on the UK market, it added. The FSA said it was surveying and sampling the products to work out the scale of the issue, and working with allergy charities in the meantime to raise awareness of the risk with consumers. It said that 'most' Dubai-style chocolate available in UK shops was safe. The FSA said: 'If in doubt, don't buy it and report any concerns to your local authority.' By law, labels must list all ingredients and clearly highlight any of the 14 regulated allergens. The FSA advised consumers to look out for labelling details to check whether a product is intended for sale here. By law, products made to UK standards should have labels in English containing the name of the food – for example, milk chocolate with pistachio paste filling – a list of ingredients with allergens emphasised, the weight of the food in grams and a best before or use by date. Labels must also include the name and address of the UK or EU business responsible for the product information. If the food is not from the UK or EU, the name and address of the importer must be included. Multiple Jolly Rancher sweets sold in the UK have been recalled as they contain products that make them 'unsafe to eat' and they do not comply with UK laws, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned. Four Jolly Rancher products have been recalled, as the FSA has told anyone who has bought them not to eat them. The affected products are the Jolly Rancher Hard Candy, Jolly Rancher 'Misfits' Gummies, Jolly Rancher Hard Candy Fruity 2 in 1, and the Jolly Rancher Berry Gummies. The recall covers all pack sizes, batch codes, and best before dates of the sweets listed above. They contain Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons, (MOAH), and Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons, (MOSH), making them unsafe to eat. Wednesday 11 June 2025. Food Alert "For Action": To Consumers who have purchased and Food Businesses who have purchased and sold Jolly Rancher products manufactured by The Hershey Company #FoodAlert — Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) June 11, 2025 The FSA said: 'For consumers, don't buy them, and if you've eaten these products, there should be no immediate cause for concern, as food safety risk is low, but don't eat any more. '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 FSA said that the Hershey Company, who produces Jolly Rancher sweets, had been working collaboratively to remove unsafe products from the UK markets. It added that while the parent company had decided to stop supplying the UK market in 2024 some businesses still continued to import the products for sale in the UK. An FSA spokesman said: 'Although the levels consumers are exposed to are likely to be low, they may present a risk to health because they contain Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons, (MOAH), and Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons, (MOSH). '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 them regularly. '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. '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. 'We are also asking the Local Authorities to inform the FSA of product recall and withdrawal actions. 'If you have bought any of the above products, do not eat them. Instead, dispose of them at home. 'If you are concerned, notify your Trading Standards department or environmental health department in the local authority you purchased it.' A lasagne has been recalled and a 'do not eat' warning issued after the Food Standards Agency (FSA) warned it could be a 'possible health risk'. Giovanni Rana is recalling its La Famiglia Rana Slow-Cooked Braised Beef Lasagne due to a packaging error. As a result of the error, some packs may contain the Prawn & Lobster Lasagne, despite the label not listing crustaceans as an ingredient. The affected lasagne has a batch code of L0B510816 and a use by date of June 17. An FSA spokesman said: 'Giovanni Rana (UK) Ltd is recalling the above product from customers and has been told to contact the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall. 'The company has also issued a point-of-sale notice to its customers. These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. 'If you have bought the above product and have an allergy to crustaceans, do not eat it. Instead return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund (even without a receipt). For further information please contact the company on recall@ Popular chocolate bars sold at a number of UK supermarkets have been recalled as they may contain 'small stones'. Tony's Chocolonely is recalling certain batches of two of its chocolate products because of the 'potential presence of foreign objects'. The chocolate bars which may contain the small stones are the Dark Almond Sea Salt Bar 180g and the Everything Bar 180g. Only certain product codes of the chocolate are being recalled. (Image: Tony's Chocolonely) These are the Dark Almond Sea Salt Bar codes and best before dates affected: 162633 with a best before date of February 28, 2026 162614 with a best before date of February 28, 2026 163061 with a best before date of April 2, 2026 These are the Everything Bar codes and best before dates affected: 4331 with a best before date of November 26, 2025 4332 with a best before date of November 27, 2025 4333 with a best before date of November 28, 2025 A spokesman for Tony's Chocolonely UK said: 'We are extremely sorry to have to issue this recall, and for the inconvenience that this will cause people who purchased these products. 'Whilst the probability of a product being affected is low, we always put the safety and satisfaction of our consumers first and that is why we have made the decision to recall these products. 'We apologise to consumers and our partners for the impact this will have. 'This recall only affects these specific products and lot codes. All other Tony's Chocolonely products remain safe to consume and are not impacted. 'Do you have a bar with the impacted lot number(s)? Please don't eat the chocolate. Instead, we kindly ask you that you return the product to the store where you bought it for a refund or replacement.' Tesco has recalled one of its products from supermarket shelves across the UK because they may pose a health risk to customers. The supermarket giant has recalled one of its Tesco Free From Meal Kits because they contain undeclared soya. The presence of soya, not mentioned on the label, makes them a potential health risk for anyone with an allergy to soya. The affected products are the Tesco Free From Katsu Curry Meal Kit, affecting all products with a best before date up to and including December 12. Tony's Chocolonely recall as chocolate may contain stones 'Do not eat': Products sold at Tesco, Asda, Iceland and more recalled 'Stop using it immediately': Asda apology to customers as product recalled A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said: 'Tesco is recalling the above products from customers and has been advised to contact the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall. 'The company has also issued a recall notice to its customers. 'These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. 'If you have bought the above products do not eat them. Instead, return them to any Tesco store for a full refund. For more information contact Tesco Customer Services on 0800 505 555.' Iceland has issued a 'do not eat' warning to its customers over a product that may contain pieces of plastic. The supermarket is recalling its Iceland Vegetable Lasagne because of the risk of plastic in the dish, making it unsafe to eat. The affected products have best before dates of July 23, 2026, and July 30, 2026. A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency also told anyone who has purchased the dish not to eat it. Wednesday 19 March. Iceland Foods Ltd recalls Iceland Vegetable Lasagne because it may contain pieces of plastic #FoodAlert — Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) March 19, 2025 They said: 'Iceland Foods Ltd is recalling the above product. The company has issued a recall notice to its customers. 'These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. 'If you have bought the above product do not eat it. Instead, return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund. For more information, please call 0800 328 0800.' An Iceland spokesman added: 'We are taking the precautionary measure of recalling the dates codes of the above product because it may contain hard pieces of plastic making it unsafe to eat. 'Only the best before date codes listed in this notice are affected. 'If you have purchased any of the above product, DO NOT eat it.' A popular breakfast choice sold at Tesco, Ocado, Amazon and other outlets has been recalled because it may contain insects. Rude Health Foods Ltd is recalling its Rude Health Chocolate Crunch Granola because of the possible presence of insects. The affected product is the 400g box of granola with a best before date of October 24. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned anyone who has purchased the granola not to eat it but return it to wherever they bought it for a full refund. Thursday 20 March - @rudehealth recalls Rude Health Chocolate Crunch Granola because of the possible presence of insects #FoodAlert — Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) March 20, 2025 A spokesman said: 'The product listed above might contain insects, which may make them unsafe to eat. 'Rude Health Foods Ltd is recalling the above product. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling this product. 'These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. 'If you have bought the above product do not eat it. Instead, return it to your local store for a refund. For further information, please contact Rude Health Foods Ltd at hello@ Iceland 'do not eat' warning as product may contain 'hard pieces of plastic' Holiday warning as mosquito bite leaves student paralysed for a month AA issues roundabout warning to drivers as millions risk fine for common mistake A Rude Health Foods spokesman added: 'No other batches of the chocolate crunch granola or other Rude Health products are affected by this recall. 'If you have bought the above product we advise you do not consumer it. 'We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused to our customers.' If there is a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold, then it might be 'withdrawn' (taken off the shelves) or 'recalled' (when customers are asked to return the product). The FSA issues Product Withdrawal Information Notices and Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food. In some cases, a 'Food Alert for Action' is issued. This provides local authorities with details of specific actions to be taken on behalf of consumers.
