Brits have been warned that hundreds of thousands of sweets, snacks and fizzy drinks on corner shop shelves could contain banned additives linked to behavioural problems and even some cancers.
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) issued an alert following their recent audit that identified 4,000 potentially harmful items worth £8,500 confiscated in Staffordshire alone.
The concern relates to imported American treats that contain potentially hazardous or undeclared ingredients, demand for which is said to be soaring due to videos celebrating the items posted on TikTok.
The CTSI investigation discovered widespread sale of crisps containing the additive ‘Yellow 6’ – a synthetic food dye restricted in Britian.
In the UK, products containing this substance, also called ‘sunset yellow’ or ‘E110’, must carry a disclaimer stating the products can cause hyperactivity in children.
Another concerning chemical found was the preservative EDTA, which is found in the US version of Mountain Dew, but banned entirely in fizzy drinks in the UK.
Also called calcium disodium, studies of this compound have revealed links to fertility problems as well as the development of colon cancers.
Carrageenan, a thickener made from red seaweed, was also found in a number of jelly candies.
Though The Chartered Trading Standards Institute didn’t name any of the products which had been confiscated directly, images show items like crisps brand Cheetos, sweets like Jolly Ranchers, Swedish Fish, Lemonheads and Twizzlers as well as various flavours of the soft drink Mountain Dew among those seized by authorities
The Institute warned shops are responding to massive demand among young people for imported American sweets that are banned in Britian due to having ingredients linked to health hazards
While carrageenan isn’t banned in the UK it is forbidden from being added to jelly-like confectionary sold in Britain as it can represent a choking hazard to children due to its firm consistency.
Other banned substances found in sweets include mineral oils used to increase the shelf life of products that create a glossy, smooth coating.
While considered safe in the US, studies suggest the petroleum derived additive could raise the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer and bladder cancer.
Chemically bleached flour, which is banned in the UK due to links to cancer risk, was also found in some items.
Though CTSI didn’t name any of the products that had been confiscated, images show Cheetos crips, sweets like Jolly Ranchers, Swedish Fish, Lemonheads and Twizzlers as well as various flavours of the soft drink Mountain Dew among those seized by authorities.
CTSI also warned that a number of products failed to adhere to UK rules on allergy warnings and were, in some cases, long expired.
CTSI said the Christmas season is a period of high demand for these products with interest among British children driven by influencers posting videos of ‘candy hauls’ and reviews of imported sweets on social media.
Dean Cooke, CTSI lead officer for food, said: ‘Social media has amplified the demand for American sweets, with influencers on platforms like TikTok showcasing these colourful products in ways that appeal to children and teenagers.
A previous MailOnline investigation found banned white mineral oil was found in Swedish Fish and Lemonhead sweets sold in American sweet shops across London
Popular stocking filler treats, such as Jolly Ranchers, Swedish Fish and Lemonheads, are all imported from the US and have become widely available across the UK. As well as appearing on a host of confectionary shelves across the country, they are growing in popularity online, with ads appearing on TikTok and Instagram. While versions of the products sold in major shops have had their recipes tweaked to comply with UK rules, those with a US formulation that are unlawfully imported include prohibited chemicals
‘While this drives seasonal sales, it also creates a dangerous market for items that fail to meet UK safety standards.’
He said while trading standards officials were working to take such products off British shelves he added ‘parents need to be vigilant in checking labels to protect their children from potential harm.’
Mr Cooke added: ‘Importers, by law, have to re-label products with a UK or GB address.’
‘If food does not have a UK or GB address on the label, we would advise them not to buy it.’
Councillor Victoria Wilson, who is responsible for trading standards at Staffordshire County Council, where the recent audit was conducted, added: ‘During this pilot project, we were alarmed to find over 3,300 unsafe items on sale, many of which contained unauthorised ingredients and were targeted at children.’
‘These items are often poorly labelled and can contain harmful additives, posing serious public health concerns. Parents need to stay alert and avoid products with unclear labelling, especially during the festive season.’
The warnings echo those from a MailOnline investigation conducted earlier this year which a found a host of banned or undeclared ingredients in American confectionary.
These included the sweet brands Swedish Fish and Lemonhead which were found to have a banned white mineral oil in them.
During that investigation Yellow 6 was also found in some versions of both sweets without warning labels.
Previous audits have also uncovered some examples of imported drinks containing brominated vegetable oil (BVO), which is used to stop flavours in drinks separating and floating to the top.
BVO is banned has been in UK and is linked to headaches, memory loss, impaired balance and thyroid problems.
