- A disturbing study by Healthy Florida First revealed toxic arsenic levels in 28 of 46 tested candies, prompting concerns about long-term health effects, including cancer risks.
- Popular treats like Nerds, Kit Kats, and Skittles contained concerning arsenic levels, with researchers establishing strict “safe consumption limits” for both children and adults.
- The findings showed alarming restrictions, such as children safely consuming only 2-3 Snickers annually, while even “healthier” alternatives like Smart Sweets contained concerning arsenic amounts.
TGINH—thank God it’s not Halloween. It is not a good week for candy. I’m very sad to report that a recent study conducted by Healthy Florida First found some concerning things in your favorite candies. The testing found that out of the 46 different candies tested, 28 contained toxic levels of arsenic.
But arsenic, a heavy metal, is not uncommon in food. According to the FDA, “Arsenic may be present in food from the environment where foods are grown, raised, or processed.” However, the CDC notes that long-term exposure to arsenic can have debilitating health effects, including causing various types of cancer, skin disorders, cardiovascular disease, and neurological effects in fetuses when pregnant.
The study analyzed different types of popular candy to determine the “approximate ‘safe’ consumption amounts per year, based on developmental age, where arsenic was detected.” The study continues, “Arsenic exposure beyond limits that are considered safe can increase the risk of cancers, including lung, skin, kidney, and bladder.”
The results? All too depressing. Here are the candies, how much arsenic they were found to contain, and how much is actually safe to eat in any given year.
|
Arsenic (ppb) |
Child Safe Consumption Limit |
Adult Safe Consumption Limit |
|
|
Black Forest Gummy Bears |
370 |
16 pieces (if 1 piece = 3 grams) |
40 pieces |
|
Laffy Taffy Banana |
480 | 4 pieces (if 1 piece = 8.8 grams) | 9 3/5 pieces |
|
Nerds Grape |
380 | 96 pieces (if 1 piece = .5 grams) | 240 pieces |
|
Nerds Strawberry |
450 | 96 pieces (if 1 piece = .5 grams) | 240 pieces |
|
Nerds Gummy Cluster |
500 | 24 pieces (if 1 piece = 2 grams) | 60 pieces |
|
SweeTarts Original |
400 | 48 pieces (if 1 piece = 1.25 grams) | 120 pieces |
|
SweeTarts Rope |
390 | 3 ropes (if 1 rope = 12.5 grams) | 7.5 ropes |
|
Trolli Sour Brite Crawlers |
430 | 12 pieces (if 1 piece = 3.8 grams) | 30 pieces |
|
Hershey’s Cookies’ N’ Creme |
280 | 1 1/5 bars (if 1 bar = 43 grams) | 3 bars |
|
Jolly Rancher Hard Candy Sour Apple |
540 | 6 pieces (if 1 piece = 8 grams) | 15 pieces |
|
Jolly Rancher Hard Candy Strawberry |
320 | 6 pieces (if 1 piece = 8 grams) | 15 pieces |
|
Twizzlers Strawberry |
500 | 4 pieces (if 1 piece = 11 grams) | 9 3/5 pieces |
|
Twizzlers Cherry |
350 | 8 pieces (if 1 piece = 5.8 grams) | 20 pieces |
|
Twizzlers Watermelon |
510 | 18 pieces (if 1 piece = 3 grams) | 45 pieces |
|
Kit Kat |
230 | 2 3/5 pieces (if 1 piece = 17 grams) | 6 pieces |
|
3 Musketeers |
240 | 2 2/5 pieces (if 1 piece = 5.7 grams) | 20 pieces |
|
Snickers |
350 | 2 2/5 pieces (if 1 piece = 9 grams) | 6 pieces |
|
Original Skittles |
370 | 48 pieces (if 1 piece = 1.04 grams) | 120 pieces |
|
Sour Patch Kids |
470 | 36 pieces (if 1 piece = 1.25 grams) | 90 pieces |
|
Sour Patch Kids Tropical |
420 | 18 pieces (if 1 piece = 2.5 grams) | 45 pieces |
|
Sour Patch Kids Watermelon |
420 | 12 pieces (if 1 piece = 3.6 grams) | 30 pieces |
|
Swedish Fish |
220 | 8 pieces (if 1 piece = 6 grams) | 20 pieces |
|
Dots |
430 | 12 pieces (if 1 piece = 3.7 grams) | 30 pieces |
|
Tootsie Fruit Chew Lime |
570 | 8 pieces (if 1 piece = 6.6 grams) | 20 pieces |
|
Tootsie Roll |
380 | 8 pieces (if 1 piece = 6.6 grams) | 20 pieces |
|
Tootsie Roll Vanilla |
370 | 8 pieces (if 1 piece = 7 grams) | 20 pieces |
|
Smart Sweets Caramel |
240 | 1 bag (if 1 bag = 45 grams) | 2 2/5 bags |
|
Smart Sweets Sweet Fish |
180 | 1 bag (if 1 bag = 50 grams) | 2 2/5 bags |
Brb while I go cull my stashes.