Warning issued as sweets from popular brand deemed 'unsafe to eat' over cancer risk

Much is made over the stark differences in food regulations between the UK and US, namely in that we Brits are much stricter than ourAmerican cousins. Most of that conversation relates to prospective trade deals and the potential for British food safety and quality standards dropping to meet those of the US.

If you’ve ever heard someone decrying ‘chlorinated chicken’, it’s basically the poster child for that disparity.

When it comes to confectionary, there are bucketloads of banned additives in the UK and EU that are still in use in the US. Much of this accounts for why British versions of things like Cheetos are so different to the full-blooded American versions.

Jolly Rancher sweets contain carcinogenic substances (Jerry Cleveland / Contributor/Getty Images)

One popular sweet in the US that doesn’t get much action in the UK is the Jolly Rancher: brightly-coloured hard-boiled sweets with a similar consistency to a Chupa Chups lolly.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) in the UK has named Jolly Ranchers as a US sweets brand that is ‘unsafe to eat’, namely in containing ingredients that may damage DNA structures and heighten cancer risks.

It has recommended that UK businesses stop importing and selling Jolly Ranchers, which are owned by Hershey.

According to the FSA, Jolly Ranchers contain mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) and mineral oil saturated hydorcarbons (MOSH) that are ‘not compliant with UK laws’.

It said that regular consumption of Jolly Ranchers is the sticking point, with ‘no immediate cause for concern as [the] food safety risk is low’.

In other words, a few here and there aren’t likely to harm you, but prolonged consumption over time may yield negative health outcomes.

"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,” said the FSA in a statement released on June 11th 2025.

"MOAH is a genotoxic carcinogen, therefore no exposure is without risk to human health."

As to what MOAH and MOSH are for, they’re used in sweets to reduce stickiness and create a glossy sheen.

Affected Jolly Ranchers products include: Jolly Rancher Hard Candy, Jolly Rancher 'Misfits' Gummies, Jolly Rancher Hard Candy Fruity 2 in 1, and Jolly Ranchers Berry Gummies.

Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Despite the low immediate risk, the FSA has recommended that you stop eating the listed products and throw them away. It added that concerned consumers can notify the Trading Standards or environmental health departments of their local authorities of where they purchased the sweets.

The FSA also said that authorities have been asked to make contact with businesses who have been supplied with the affected products and to take action to ensure they’re removed from sale.