Latest news with #MOAH
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Iconic US candy eaten by millions banned in UK over fears of cancer-causing ingredients
Health officials in the UK have taken Jolly Ranchers off shelves over fears of cancer-causing ingredients. UK-based watchdog Food Standards Agency said affected candies, made by Hershey, include Jolly Rancher Hard Candy, Jolly Rancher Misfits Gummies, Jolly Rancher Hard Candy Fruity 2 in 1 and Jolly Rancher Berry Gummies. The candies were banned for containing mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) and mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH), petroleum-based additives that usually enter foods from processing equipment. They're most often found in vegetable oils, candy, chips, cereals, canned fish and baby food. Both substances are prohibited in UK food production over fears they can accumulate in the liver and lymphatic system, damaging DNA and increasing the risk of cancer. All of the Jolly Rancher products now banned in the UK contain mineral oils in their US versions. The products also lead the US hard candy market with $160million in sales every year. Hershey told UK regulators it has taken action to remove affected brands from British markets. However, there are no restrictions against these additives in the US. Jolly Rancher products in the US also contain artificial colors like Red 40, Yellows 5 and 6 and Blue 1, which are all prohibited in the UK due to links to hyperactivity, migraines and cancer. The FSA said after the ban was announced Wednesday in the UK: '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.' The agency said while 'there should be no immediate casue for concern' for UK customers who have eaten the affected products, they should not continue to buy them. A Hershey spokesperson told USA Today Thursday that its products are 'safe to enjoy' and that because it is a global brand, customers can sometimes purchase products in markets other than those where they were produced. In this case, even though Hershey is American, its products have found their way to the UK. The spokesperson said: '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. '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.' US health officials have not issued any guidance for American consumers. MOAH are considered genotoxic carcinogens, meaning they can induce cancers by directly attacking DNA, even at low levels. This increases the risk of healthy cells mutating into cancer cells. Some types of MOSH, meanwhile, have been shown to accumulate in the liver and lymphatic system, based on animal studies. However, it's unclear if similar effects can be seen in humans. All of the Jolly Rancher products included in the ban also include artificial food dyes like Red 40, Yellows 5 and 6 and Blue 1. Despite being prohibited in the UK, these are allowed in the US. However, health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has announced plans to outlaw the colors. All of these dyes have been linked to hyperactivity, migraines and some forms of cancer.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
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@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jolly Rancher candies deemed unsafe in UK over cancer concerns
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Health
- Miami Herald
Britain's FSA warns Jolly Rancher products ‘unsafe to eat'
June 12 (UPI) -- British consumers and businesses are cautioned against buying sweets from US brand Hershey as they are "unsafe to eat," according to the Food Standards Agency. On Wednesday, the FSA listed Jolly Rancher products as a safety risk. They contain chemical compounds -- mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons, or MOAH, and mineral oil saturated hydrocarbon or MOSH. "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", the FSA said. The sweets that the FSA is warning about include Jolly Rancher Hard Candy, Misfits Gummies, and Berry Gummies. "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 FSA said "This is because the products are unsafe and do not meet UK market legal requirements. The Hershey Company, who is the brand owner, has taken action to remove these products from the UK market". The agency recommended that anyone in possession of the products not eat them and throw them away. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
Some Jolly Rancher sweets unsafe to eat, FSA says
In a food alert published on Wednesday evening, the FSA said: "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." 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 food agency 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 "immediate contact" with businesses which had been supplied with or received any of the products, and take action to ensure they were withdrawn from the market.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Britain's FSA warns Jolly Rancher products 'unsafe to eat'
June 12 (UPI) -- British consumers and businesses are cautioned against buying sweets from US brand Hershey as they are "unsafe to eat," according to the Food Standards Agency. On Wednesday, the FSA listed Jolly Rancher products as a safety risk. They contain chemical compounds -- mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons, or MOAH, and mineral oil saturated hydrocarbon or MOSH. "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", the FSA said. The sweets that the FSA is warning about include Jolly Rancher Hard Candy, Misfits Gummies, and Berry Gummies. "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 FSA said "This is because the products are unsafe and do not meet UK market legal requirements. The Hershey Company, who is the brand owner, has taken action to remove these products from the UK market". The agency recommended that anyone in possession of the products not eat them and throw them away.
