Brits are being urgently warned about dangerous American confectionery and beverages that could have adverse health effects, including cancer, heart issues, and kidney damage.

Manchester’s Environmental Health team, following guidance from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), has warned about an influx of US products featuring illicit ingredients.

The warning states: “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.”

They further emphasised the gravity of the situation in Manchester, explaining: “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.”

The team is actively working on consumer protection by confiscating these items from stores and informing retailers about their potential risks. The public has been encouraged to report any products containing banned ingredients to contact@manchester.gov.uk, reports Manchester Evening News.

The alert highlights the presence of additives and components in some of these imported sugary treats and carbonated drinks, which are prohibited in the UK due to connections with hyperactivity, behavioural problems, cancer, kidney and other organ damage, and heart conditions. Additionally, it notes that certain banned substances could impair insulin response, trigger nausea and diarrhoea, cause headaches, dizziness, and result in a deficiency of copper.

A warning has been issued about certain imported products found to contain prohibited additives and ingredients. While some of these brands do offer products that comply with UK regulations, the alert specifically mentions Jolly Rancher Hard Candy, Fanta Pineapple, Mtn Dew, Swedish Fish, Prime Hydration, Cheetos Crunchy, and Twizzlers Strawberry Twists and Rainbow Twists.

Consumers are advised to check the ingredients of these products to ensure they meet UK safety standards. John Herriman, Chief Executive of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), previously stated: “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.”

He added: “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.” Herriman also noted the surge in demand for these products, leading to millions being imported and ending up in retail stores and in the hands of children.

Authorities are calling for retailers and suppliers to take action by immediately ceasing the sale of products containing unauthorised ingredients. The message is clear: “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 to look out for are:

• 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.

The following additives can cause hyperactivity and behavioural problems in children. There should be a warning on the packaging to state this:

• Sunset yellow FCF (E110)

• Quinoline yellow (E104)

• Carmoisine (E122)

• Allura red (E129)

• Tartrazine (E102)

• Ponceau 4R (E124)

The following additives are allowed in food but not in drinks:

• Calcium disodium EDTA (E385) – in animal studies it caused adverse reproductive and developmental effects and in mice has been shown to contribute to cancer of the colon

• Erythorbic acid (E315)