TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) – Florida health officials found arsenic in 28 of 46 candy products tested as part of the state’s Healthy Florida First initiative, Governor Ron DeSantis announced Monday.
The Florida Department of Health tested candy products from 10 companies for heavy metals, including popular brands such as Jolly Ranchers and Kit Kats. The results are intended to provide transparency for families about products widely consumed by children.
“We want parents to kind of to know what’s out there,” DeSantis said during a news conference. “You’re in a supermarket, grab this, grab that, maybe not everything is created equal in terms of what would be the healthiest options.”
The candy testing follows similar work on infant formula earlier this month. The state analyzed 24 infant formula products from seven major brands and found elevated levels of heavy metals, including mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and lead, compared to health-based screening benchmarks.
First Lady Casey DeSantis said the testing aims to ensure product safety and accountability.
“As parents and consumers, we should have confidence that the products sold in grocery stores are safe and free from poison,” she said. “No one should have to wonder whether the food that they are feeding their children is quietly impacting their health over time.”
The arsenic detection in candy products prompted further evaluation of potential exposure risks, particularly for children, according to the health department.
The candy testing initiative is part of Florida’s broader Healthy Florida First effort, which focuses on clean and transparent food systems, accountability and restoring trust in public health through evidence-based action.
Both the infant formula and candy testing results are available online.
The National Confectioners Association issued the following statement:
“Chocolate and candy are safe to eat and can be enjoyed as treats as they have been for centuries. The recent announcement from the State of Florida is misguided and demonstrates a glaring lack of transparency related to data-driven, scientific safety thresholds and the evaluation of confectionery products. It will result in confusion among consumers, regulators, and lawmakers. Alternatively, the FDA’sCloser to Zero Initiative was created to reduce dietary exposure to naturally occurring elements (such as arsenic), and is currently working on arsenic action levels for foods consumed by children. Florida has chosen sound bites over science – ignoring this science-based program in favor of publishing unsourced materials that amount to little more than a scare tactic. Food safety and product quality remain our highest priorities, and we remain dedicated to being transparent and socially responsible – and we follow the science.”
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