Florida health officials exposed arsenic contamination in over half of tested candy products marketed to children, revealing what many parents fear most: major corporations profiting from potentially harmful products while federal regulators sit idle.
Story Snapshot
- Florida’s “Healthy Florida First” initiative detected arsenic in 28 of 46 candy products from 10 major brands, including household names like Jolly Rancher, Snickers, and Twizzlers
- Tootsie Fruit Chew Lime registered the highest arsenic level at 570 parts per billion, prompting health officials to recommend children consume no more than 8 pieces annually
- Governor Ron DeSantis launched the $5 million state-level testing program after the Biden-era FDA failed to adequately monitor heavy metals in children’s food products
- The candy industry immediately attacked Florida’s methodology, claiming the state’s testing standards don’t align with federal regulations that have clearly failed to protect our kids
- Five brands tested completely clean: Yum Earth, Unreal, Annie’s, Reese’s, and Whoppers, proving safer alternatives exist when companies prioritize children over profits
Florida Takes Food Safety Into Its Own Hands
The Florida Department of Health announced testing results in January 2026 that should alarm every parent in America. State health officials tested 46 candy products from 10 brands and found arsenic in 28 of them. This wasn’t some random screening. Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis launched the “Healthy Florida First” initiative as a $5 million response to federal regulatory failures. While Washington bureaucrats dragged their feet, Florida stepped up to protect families. The program tests food products for heavy metals, bacteria, pesticides, and microplastics—contaminants the federal government should have been monitoring all along.
The Shocking Test Results Parents Need to Know
Tootsie Fruit Chew Lime topped the contamination list at 570 parts per billion of arsenic. Florida health officials calculated that children should eat no more than 8 pieces per year, while adults max out at 20 pieces. Think about that—products marketed directly to kids contain arsenic levels so high that eating them more than a handful of times annually poses health risks. Other contaminated brands included Laffy Taffy, Jolly Rancher, Snickers, and Twizzlers. Meanwhile, Yum Earth, Unreal, Annie’s, Reese’s, and Whoppers tested clean, proving manufacturers can produce safe candy when they choose to prioritize consumer health over cutting corners.
Big Candy Attacks State Transparency Effort
The National Confectioners’ Association wasted no time defending the industry’s bottom line. The trade group blasted Florida’s announcement as “misguided” and claimed the state’s methodology lacked transparency. The NCA argued that Florida’s “screening benchmarks” don’t match federal regulatory standards or peer-reviewed science. They even claimed FDA data shows lower arsenic levels than Florida reported. This response reveals everything wrong with industry lobbying. Rather than addressing why their products contain arsenic, they attack the messenger. The same federal standards the NCA champions failed to catch this contamination in the first place, which is precisely why Florida launched independent testing.
Part of Broader Health Agenda to Protect Families
Governor DeSantis framed the testing as essential to the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. First Lady Casey DeSantis emphasized that no parent should wonder whether food is quietly damaging their children’s health over time. Florida previously tested infant formulas under this initiative and found elevated mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and lead levels in products from seven major brands. The state now plans to expand testing to other products marketed for children. Complete testing results are publicly available at ExposingFoodToxins.com, giving parents the transparency they deserve. This represents state-level leadership filling the void left by federal agencies that answer to corporate interests instead of American families.
When Washington Fails, States Must Lead
This testing program exposes a fundamental problem with federal oversight. The FDA maintains regulatory authority over food safety but has allowed heavy metals in children’s products to go unchecked for years. Arsenic occurs naturally in all foods at low concentrations, but elevated levels pose serious long-term health risks, especially for developing children. Florida’s willingness to conduct independent testing and publish results sets a precedent other states should follow. While the candy industry complains about methodology, parents now have information to make informed choices. That’s called transparency and accountability—principles that used to guide American governance before regulatory agencies became captured by the industries they supposedly regulate.
Sources:
Florida Contaminant Testing Program Raises Concerns Over Arsenic in Candy – Food Safety Magazine
