GEORGIA (WALB) - Candy is enjoyed internationally by people of all ages. Like many food items in the food industry, health experts advise consumers to eat candy in moderation. Typically, consumers look for ingredients like sugar, artificial food coloring, and calories when inspecting candy.

In a Jan. 26 article from the Florida Phoenix, it says the following regarding the discovery of a dangerous chemical in multiple candy products.

“The administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday that it had tested 46 types of candy and that more than 60% of them (28) contained elevated arsenic levels that, consumed over time, could put children at an increased risk of cancer.”

Casey DeSantis (wife of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis) is aiming to support the Make America Healthy Again Movement.

Make America Healthy again or the MAHA initiative, is an agenda launched by the Trump administration in 2025, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The purpose of the initiative is to tackle the chronic disease epidemic, particularly in children, by reforming food, agricultural, and health systems. It focuses on removing toxins from food, enhancing nutritional standards, and investigating the root causes of chronic illnesses.

DeSantis says, “The [Food and Drug Administration] primarily works as a reactionary force, stepping in after problems are identified, and while that role is very important, Florida is really working to change the system by supporting the FDA to not only continue to get in front of these problems by testing, but also by leading a coalition of states to trust but verify the integrity of our food supply.”

Below you can find some examples of candy that arsenic has been found in.

1. Black Forest Gummy Bears
   1. Arsenic parts per billion- 370
   2. Consumption limit for the year for children: 16 pieces
   3. Consumption limit for the year for adults: 40 pieces
2. Laffy Taffy Banana
   1. Arsenic parts per billion- 480
   2. Consumption limit for the year for children: 95 pieces
   3. Consumption limit for the year for adults: 9 and ⅗ pieces
3. Nerds Grape
   1. Arsenic parts per billion- 380
   2. Consumption limit for the year for children: 96 pieces
   3. Consumption limit for the year for adults: 240 pieces
4. Sweet Tarts Original
   1. Arsenic parts per billion- 400
   2. Consumption limit for the year for children: 48 pieces
   3. Consumption limit for the year for adults: 120 pieces
5. Trolli Sour Bite Crawlers
   1. Arsenic parts per billion- 430
   2. Consumption limit for the year for children: 12 pieces
   3. Consumption limit for the year for adults: 30 pieces
6. Hershey’s Cookies ‘N’ Creme
   1. Arsenic parts per billion- 280
   2. Consumption limit for the year for children: 1 and ⅕ bars
   3. Consumption limit for the year for adults: 3 bars
7. Jolly Rancher Hard Candy Sour Apple
   1. Arsenic parts per billion- 540
   2. Consumption limit for the year for children: 6 pieces
   3. Consumption limit for the year for adults: 15 pieces

Below is the full document of candies with traces of arsenic from the Healthy Florida First website:

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