Shoppers are warned against buying some confectionery items imported from America which contain ingredients linked to hyperactivity and cancer in children.
Thousands of popular American sweets and drinks imported to the UK have been seized, with shoppers warned against buying the goods which have “worrying side effects” according to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI).
It said some imported products like American confectionery “weren’t designed to be sold here” and might contain additives that aren’t authorised to be sold in the UK and don’t meet UK food safety standards.
Some ingredients found in the items can trigger hyperactive behaviour in children, others are “capable of forming cancers”, while some “caused adverse reproductive and developmental effects” in animals, the CTSI warned.
Further, those who eat or drink the items may not see the right allergy labelling, potentially exposing people to serious harm.
Which American candy goods were seized?
The more than 3,300 items worth £8,500 seized from local shops by Staffordshire County Council’s Trading Standards team following intelligence received by the Food Standards Agency, include:
- Mountain Dew canned and bottled drinks of many varieties
- Mirinda
- Sunny D
- Swedish Fish
- Dubble Bubble
- Jolly Rancher gummies and hard candy
- Hot Tamales
- Twizzlers
- Lemonhead
The seized items contained unauthorised additives not manufactured for the UK market:
- Brominated Vegetable oil (BVO)
- E127, Erythrosine (shown on US products as Red 3) – this is allowed in cocktail cherries, but not in sweets. The CTSI said there is evidence that E127 or Erythrosine can contribute to triggering hyperactive behaviour especially in children
- Mineral Oil which carries the risk of contamination with other compounds, in turn they are capable of forming cancers
- Bleached Flour
The CTSI said that when the following additives are used, a disclaimer is required to state that these additives can cause hyperactivity in children:
- Sunset yellow FCF (E110)
- Quinoline yellow (E104)
- Carmoisine (E122)
- Allura red (E129)
- Tartrazine (E102) – Yellow 5
- Ponceau 4R (E124)
The following are allowed in food but not in drinks:
- Calcium disodium EDTA (E385). In animal studies it’s caused adverse reproductive and developmental effects and in mice has been shown to contribute to cancer of the colon
- Erythorbic acid (E315)
Check the weight to reduce the worry
The CTSI explained that additives are only authorised for use in the UK if they have been tested and proved to be safe for its intended use, in that particular type of food or drink; there is a justifiable technological need to use it; and its use does not mislead the consumer.
With the popularity of American candy stores growing in recent years – and with an estimated 50,000 convenience stores, the CTSI said “this is a national concern”.
It advised that the easiest way to check whether a product is an American import or not is to look at how the weight is recorded.
In the UK, we use grams and millilitres and in America it is fluid ounce and ounce. If the labelling shows American weights it is an import and the food labelling needs to be compliant with UK laws, with no unauthorised ingredients in the produce.
CTSI chief executive, John Herriman, said: “It’s extremely worrying to learn that as we approach Christmas, confectionary we know will appeal to children is on sale in UK high streets, and that it could be linked to hyperactivity in kids, and even cancer.
“The popularity of these items is being increased by videos on social media platforms, such as TikTok. The increase in demand means importers are sending these through our ports and borders in the millions, and these are then being widely distributed and ending up in retail stores and in the hands of children.
“We ask that all persons placing these products on the market, including the suppliers and retailers take their responsibilities seriously in this matter and urgently remove items from sale that contain unauthorised ingredients. We also urge parents to be aware.”
Victoria Wilson, Cabinet Member responsible for Trading Standards at Staffordshire County Council said: “While the majority of foods are safe and most stores operate within the law, it is important that imported food is accurately labelled in English with the allergens declared.
“We are seeing more and more illegal items being sold on social media websites and marketplaces, including counterfeit foods. This has become even more prevalent as we approach Christmas and our message to shoppers is to always check product labels carefully before buying.”
