Arsenic in candy Florida?
Executive summary
Florida’s Healthy Florida First testing found arsenic in 28 of 46 candy products sampled, prompting state-calculated “safe” annual consumption limits and headlines about popular brands such as Twizzlers, Nerds and Jolly Ranchers [1] [2]. The highest measured level was 570 parts per billion in Tootsie Fruit Chew Lime, and state officials stress cumulative exposure risks, while industry groups criticize the methodology and alignment with federal standards [3] [4] [5].
1. What Florida tested and what it found
The Florida Department of Health contracted testing of 46 candy products from 10 manufacturers and reported detectable arsenic in 28 items—mainly sugar‑based, fruit‑flavored confections—posting results on an online portal tied to the Healthy Florida First initiative [6] [7] [1]. Reported concentrations topped out at 570 ppb in one sample and included many household names; the state converted those concentrations into “safe consumption” recommendations, in some cases limiting children to single‑digit pieces per year for specific candies [3] [4] [8].
2. How Florida framed the health risk
Florida health officials emphasized that arsenic exposure accumulates across foods and time and can raise cancer and non‑cancer risks, especially for developing children, and used ATSDR minimal risk levels and consumption‑based models to set preliminary limits [9] [6]. State leaders said the goal was transparency and proactive protection rather than waiting for federal action, noting prior testing of infant formulas under the same initiative [6] [10].
3. Methodology, gaps and scientific caveats
The state says samples were analyzed by an independent certified lab and that risk estimates were consumption‑based, yet multiple reports note the public materials lack detail on testing frequency, lab methods, whether species of arsenic (organic vs inorganic) were distinguished, and full statistical context—important omissions because inorganic arsenic poses greater toxicity than some organic forms [7] [10] [9]. The Florida report’s use of state benchmarks rather than existing FDA frameworks is a central technical critique voiced by confectionery groups and some analysts [5] [7].
4. Industry, federal context and competing narratives
The National Confectioners Association and manufacturers called the state’s release “misguided,” arguing it ignores the FDA’s Closer to Zero initiative and published data such as the FDA Total Diet Study that show lower confectionery arsenic levels; they warn state benchmarks can create public confusion [5] [8] [11]. Florida officials counter that federal efforts are “reactionary” and that their work adds transparency—this overlap highlights distinct agendas: state political leadership promoting Healthy Florida First versus industry defense of established regulatory processes [6] [7].
5. What this means for consumers and what’s unresolved
Practically, the findings mean some candies contain detectable arsenic and Florida computed conservative consumption limits to illustrate cumulative exposure concerns; however, without publicly accessible detailed lab methods, speciation data (inorganic vs organic), and broader population exposure context, it is not possible from available reporting to quantify actual disease risk from eating a few pieces versus chronic high intake [4] [10] [9]. Parents and caregivers may reasonably choose moderation for high‑ppb products cited by Florida while awaiting clearer guidance from federal authorities who are actively working on action levels for arsenic in foods consumed by children [5] [11].