Environmental Health experts have issued a warning over dangerous sweets linked to cancer which are being sold to children in the UK. Sweets and drinks imported from the USA are being sold in UK shops despite containing banned ingredients linked to cancer.
Manchester City Council’s Environmental Health team explained: “The Chartered Trading Standards Institute has issued a warning that imported sweets and fizzy drinks with known links to hyperactivity and cancer have flooded the UK. Here in Manchester we’re taking this very seriously, and the Council’s Environmental Health team are seizing illegal products from local shops. We’re also urging you not to buy these products for children.
“We’re working hard to protect consumers by removing these products from local shops and educating shopkeepers about the dangers. If you see a product with one of the banned ingredients, please report it to [email protected].”
The urgent alert says some of the imported sweets and drinks contain additives and ingredients that are banned in the UK because they are linked to hyperactivity, behavioural problems, kidney cancer and other organ damage and heart problems,Manchester Evening Newsreported.
Some of the banned ingredients can also make an insulin response less affective, cause vomiting and diarrhoea, headaches, dizziness and copper deficiency. The warning has revealed which of the imported products have been found to contain the banned additives and ingredients – although some of the brands do have products intended for the UK market which comply with current legislation, the alert said.
Anyone buying the products listed should look out for ingredients to check if the product is safe to consume and meets the UK guidelines.
CTSI Chief Executive John Herriman said: “The UK prides itself on high food standards but this very much relies on Trading Standards ensuring that what is on sale complies with the law. Trading Standards work extremely hard to protect the public by removing dangerous products from sale, but the popularity of these items is being increased by videos on social media platforms, such as TikTok.
“The increase in demand means importers are sending these through our ports and borders in the millions, and these are then being widely distributed and ending up in retail stores and in the hands of children.
“We ask that all persons placing these products on the market, including the suppliers and retailers take their responsibilities seriously in this matter and urgently remove items from sale that contain unauthorised ingredients. We also urge parents to be aware. If shop owners are unsure of what items are safe to sell, they should contact their local Trading Standards service for support and advice.”
Banned ingredients:
• Brominated vegetable oil (BVO)
• E127, erythrosine (shown on US products as Red 3)
• Mineral oil – this carries the risk of contamination with other compounds that are capable of forming cancers
• Bleached flour.