‘Do not eat’ warning as health chiefs flag cancer fears over Jolly Rancher sweets – shops STILL selling them despite ban

Health officials are calling for tighter restrictions to prevent food businesses from being able to import and sell Jolly Ranchers after it was revealed that the confections contain toxic chemicals found in petroleum.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued an urgent warning after American confectionery produced by The Hershey Company was found to contain Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons (MOAH), making them unsafe to eat.

It warned: ‘Food businesses selling these products in the UK are advised to immediately cease sales, withdraw their products and recall the products where retail sales exist.’

Warning includes Hard Candy, ‘Mismatched’ Gummies, Hard Candy Fruity 2-in-1 and Berry Gummies, Filled Pops and Freeze Dried Candy.

This comes after health authorities banned the sweets last year over concerns they contained substances linked to cancer.

These chemicals, derived from crude oil, have been linked to serious diseases, including cancer, especially in the liver and lymph nodes.

This makes sweets unsafe to eat, especially over long periods of time, and is not compliant with UK law.

Although the food watchdog said there was ‘no immediate cause for concern for consumers eating these products’, it was stated that MOAH is a known carcinogen and could pose a significant safety risk if consumed regularly.

He continued: ‘Although the levels to which consumers are exposed are likely to be low, they may pose a health risk because they contain MOAH.

‘Consumption of the affected sweets is of toxicological concern, particularly in younger age groups and where consumers consume a lot of the product or consume it regularly.’

According to the agency, The Hershey Company has been working with the FSA and the UK government to remove unsafe products from the UK market since 2024, but other businesses continue to import and supply products to the UK market.