Why Jolly Ranchers Are Banned in the UK but Not the US

https://www.wired.com/story/why-jolly-ranchers-are-banned-in-the-uk-but-not-the-us-moah-mosh-gras/

Posted by wiredmagazine

13 comments

  1. **On June 11,** the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued an alert declaring several candies manufactured by The Hershey Company “[unsafe to eat](https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/alert/fsa-fafa-02-2025).” Four products from the flagship Jolly Rancher brand—Hard Candy, “Misfits” Gummies, Hard Candy Fruity 2 in 1, and Berry Gummies—contain mineral oil hydrocarbons, [banned from food in the UK](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1966/1073/body/made).

    The offending substances are mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) and mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH). Both are derived from crude oil and are often used in confectionery to reduce stickiness and enhance the candy’s shine. “Consuming mineral oil regularly and over time could pose a risk to your health,” says Tina Potter, head of incidents at the FSA. “If you’ve eaten them, there is no need for concern, but don’t eat any more.”

    Nevertheless, the FSA has branded the consumption of these sweets a “toxicological concern.” MOSH have been found to [accumulate in the tissue](https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/8215) of certain species of lab rat, causing adverse effects in the liver. But MOAH are more concerning—the UK’s FSA, alongside the European Union, considers some of these compounds to be [genotoxic carcinogens](https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/plain-language-summary/update-risk-assessment-mineral-oil-hydrocarbons-moh-food)—substances that can cause cancer by altering cells’ genetic material.

    Enforcement will likely take time. But in the US, MOAH remain permitted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “The key takeaway from all of this is [that] mineral oil is allowed and deemed safe for use in food in the US,” says Todd Scott, senior manager of communications at The Hershey Company. “Mineral oil is not an ingredient in the recipe. We use it as a processing aid to keep the candy from sticking to the mold.”

    Read more: [https://www.wired.com/story/why-jolly-ranchers-are-banned-in-the-uk-but-not-the-us-moah-mosh-gras/](https://www.wired.com/story/why-jolly-ranchers-are-banned-in-the-uk-but-not-the-us-moah-mosh-gras/)

  3. The apple flavour were addictive and now I have very few brain cells left

  6. We don’t mind living dangerously, I mean we have Kinder eggs, but these things sound crazy

  7. Example #4839022 of the USA’s food standards being far behind ours.

  8. Showing my age here but Jolly ranchers were a thing in the 90’s though? I remember having them and thinking they were very artificial tasting. Almost like that polystyrene cement smell taste of pear drops.

  10. Their jolliness is an affront to our national character

  11. A place near me is still selling them. One of my fav sweets but I guess the bag currently have will be my last.

  13. Precise the have carcinogens in them and the US FDA is owned by the food industry.

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