Safety warning issued over imported American freeze-dried candy made by Jolly Ranchers

A safety warning has been issued over imported American sweets, including freeze-dried candy.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued the alert after a number of Jolly Racher products, which are made by The Hershey Company, were found to contain Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons (MOAH).

While the agency said the food safety risk is “low” for those who have consumed the sweets, it added MOAH is a known genotoxic carcinogen and may pose a safety risk – particularly if consumed regularly, over a sustained period.

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.

FSA added MOAH is a genotoxic carcinogen, and therefore no exposure is without risk to human health.

The agency said that while The Hershey Company has taken steps to remove unsafe products from UK markets back in 2024, other businesses continue to import and supply the products for sale.

Affected products include Jolly Rancher Hard Candy, Jolly Rancher Misfits Gummies, Jolly Rancher Hard Candy Fruity 2 in 1, Jolly Rancher Berry Gummies, Jolly Rancher Filled Pops and Jolly Rancher Freezed Dried Candy.

All batch codes, pack sizes and best before dates are affected, with all flavours of each product affected apart from Berry Gummies, with berry flavoured packs affected by the notice.

Members of the public who have purchased the sweets have been advised to dispose of them