Toxins in Children’s Candy: New Concerns After Florida Testing Finds Arsenic

New state testing has reignited concerns about toxins in the food supply after Florida health officials announced that arsenic was detected in dozens of candy products sold across the United States. The findings underscore growing questions around cumulative toxin exposure, particularly in foods marketed to children.

The Florida Department of Health reported that arsenic was found in 28 of 46 candy products tested from 10 major manufacturers. The results were released as part of the state’s Healthy Florida First initiative, which aims to increase transparency around food quality and environmental toxin exposure.

The announcement was made by Ron DeSantis, First Lady Casey DeSantis, and Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo. Officials said the testing was conducted to provide families with clearer information about products frequently consumed by children.

Among the candy products identified were several well-known brands, including Nerds, SweeTarts, Jolly Ranchers, Twizzlers, and KitKats. While arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in soil and water, its presence in food remains a concern due to its potential impact on long-term health.

The World Health Organization classifies inorganic arsenic as highly toxic. Short-term exposure at elevated levels can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and abdominal pain. Long-term exposure has been linked to skin changes, lesions, and an increased risk of certain cancers. Health experts emphasize that while individual exposures may be small, repeated intake from multiple sources can contribute to a larger toxic burden over time.

“These Florida findings on arsenic in popular children’s candies are no surprise to me. I’ve found toxins in 100% of patients, including heavy metals like arsenic that accumulate silently from everyday sources. The point is, this isn’t isolated; it’s cumulative exposure from food, water, and air building a toxic burden.” – Dr. Paul Savage, Chief Medical Officer at MDLifespan.

From a toxin exposure perspective, the issue highlights the importance of looking beyond single ingredients or products. Children are often exposed to low levels of environmental toxins from multiple sources, including food, water, air, and household products.

The findings come amid heightened national attention on toxins in the food system. Earlier this month, Florida released separate testing results on infant formula that showed elevated levels of heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury, compared to health-based screening benchmarks.

Industry groups pushed back following the announcement. The National Confectioners Association defended the safety of candy products, stating that they are safe to consume as occasional treats and criticizing Florida for bypassing the FDA’s Closer to Zero initiative, which is currently working to reduce dietary exposure to heavy metals in foods consumed by children.

For families, the takeaway is not fear, but informed choice. Understanding where toxins may appear in everyday foods is a critical step toward reducing long-term exposure and supporting healthier outcomes.

For more information and free resources to reducing your toxin exposure, please visit www.mdlifespan.com/guidebooks.