Fla. Report Claims Dangerous Arsenic Levels in Candy from Illinois Companies

A recent study being touted by the Florida Department of Health says there are dangerous levels of arsenic that are present in some popular candies including Sour Apple Jolly Ranchers, Sweet Tarts, Nerds, Skittles and others.

Assorted Skittles candies

Florida officials say that there are elevated levels of arsenic in more than 60% of popular candies sold – that’s a lot. The state tested 46 different candies and found too much arsenic in well over half of them. To be fair, arsenic can be detected at low levels in all food, but in larger amounts it can be dangerous. Here is a link to the list of candy in Florida’s study. The tested candy with elevated arsenic (and the levels), and the candy tested without arsenic found.

Are candy aisles as safe as we thought?

The specific candies listed are produced by a half dozen companies around the globe including: Hershey, Mars/Wrigley, Ferrara, Mondelez and Tootsie Roll. The National Confectioners Association clapped back at the study with a statement saying that Florida has chosen “soundbites over science”.

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Obviously, these candies aren’t only available in the Sunshine state. You can get them across the United States. Tootsie Roll International, Mars Wrigley, Mondelez International, and Ferrera Candy are headquartered in Illinois. Will Illinois conduct its own study, or dig through the data of Florida’s homework and weigh in? Back in 2024, Illinois was working on banning specific chemicals in food, but after passing in the senate, the bill couldn’t get through the remaining legislative process and it died in January 2025.