Retailers have been told to remove several Jolly Rancher confectionery products from sale after the Food Standards Agency (FSA) warned they pose a potential health risk and breach UK food laws.

In a food alert issued this week, the FSA said the affected sweets, produced by US confectionery giant Hershey, contain chemical compounds not permitted in the UK, including mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) and mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH).

The products flagged include Jolly Rancher Hard Candy, Jolly Rancher ‘Misfits’ Gummies, Jolly Rancher Hard Candy Fruity 2 in 1 and Jolly Rancher Berry Gummies.

It is understood MOAH and MOSH are commonly used in sweets to stop them sticking together and to create a glossy finish, but MOAH in particular is considered a genotoxic carcinogen, capable of damaging DNA and increasing cancer risk if consumed regularly over time.

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While the FSA said the immediate food safety risk is low, the agency stressed there is “no exposure without risk” and urged retailers and wholesalers to stop selling and distributing the items with immediate effect.

It added: “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.”

The watchdog said it had been working with Hershey since 2024 to remove the non-compliant items from the UK market. However, some importers and smaller retailers have continued to bring in the products, prompting the latest intervention.

In a statement, a Hershey spokesperson said: “The safety and quality of Jolly Rancher is our first priority, and consumers can rest assured that our products are safe to enjoy.” The company added that consumers should purchase Hershey products only from “established retailers” to ensure product integrity and regulatory compliance.

Enforcement teams have been instructed to contact any businesses known to have received the affected lines and take immediate steps to withdraw them from sale.

Consumers in possession of the listed products are being advised not to eat them and to dispose of them safely, while the FSA said it remains in contact with trading standards and environmental health officers to support enforcement across the retail supply chain.