Popular sweets made by American confectionery giant The Hershey Company have been recalled after they were found to be “unsafe to eat and not compliant with UK laws”. The recall applies to four Jolly Rancher products containing mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons and mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons, which have been linked to an increased risk of cancer.
A notice issued by the Food Standards Agency (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.”
Mineral oil, aromatic hydrocarbons, and mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons are chemical compounds that are considered toxic at certain levels.
The recall applies to all pack sizes, batch codes and dates of Jolly Rancher Hard Candy, Jolly Rancher “Misfits” Gummies, Jolly Rancher Hard Candy Fruity 2 in 1 and Jolly Rancher Berry Gummies.
The notice added: “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.”
The FSA added: “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.”
The recall applies to England, Wales and Northern Ireland, where food businesses have also been told to immediately stop sales, withdraw products and issue recall notices.
The FSA said The Hershey Company was working collaboratively to remove non-compliant products from the market since 2024, but other businesses have continued to import them to the UK.
