Florida Candy Testing Finds Arsenic in 28 Products

FL Dept of Health Newsroom

Published January 26th, 2026

Detected February 13th, 2026

Summary

The Florida Department of Health released results from its Healthy Florida First initiative, finding arsenic in 28 out of 46 tested candy products. This initiative aims to increase transparency regarding food safety and product accountability for items marketed to children.

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What changed

The Florida Department of Health, under the Healthy Florida First initiative, has released findings from testing 46 candy products, detecting arsenic in 28 of them. This announcement follows similar testing of infant formula and is intended to provide greater transparency to consumers, particularly parents, about the safety of products marketed to children. The initiative emphasizes accountability for manufacturers and aims to empower Floridians to make healthier choices.

While this is a notice of findings and not a direct enforcement action, it highlights potential risks associated with products consumed by children. Food manufacturers and retailers operating in Florida should be aware of these findings and the department's commitment to transparency in food safety. Consumers are encouraged to review the results to make informed purchasing decisions. The department aims to drive change in the food industry through such evaluations and public communication.

What to do next

Review Florida DOH candy testing results for potential product safety concerns.
Assess product ingredients and testing protocols for heavy metals, particularly arsenic.

Source document (simplified)

For media inquiries: Communications Office • NewsMedia@FLHealth.gov • 850-245-4111 TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —Today, Governor Ron DeSantis, First Lady Casey DeSantis, and Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo announced new food safety findings under the Healthy Florida First initiative, with the release of candy product testing results conducted by the Florida Department of Health (DOH) to provide greater transparency for Florida families and strengthen accountability for products marketed to children.

“Our “Healthy Florida First” initiative promotes innovation, ensures accountability, and empowers Floridians to make the healthiest choices for their families. Transparency is vital to that mission,“ said Governor DeSantis. “Today, First Lady Casey DeSantis, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, and I were proud to announce that Florida has expanded this initiative by evaluating other products marketed for children. Through these transparency efforts and our long-standing commitment to medical freedom, Florida is doing our part to help Make America Healthy Again.”

Earlier this month, Florida released infant formula testing results after DOH analyzed 24 infant formula products sold online and in stores across the state, reviewing samples from seven major brands for heavy metals and pesticides. The testing identified elevated levels of certain heavy metals compared to health-based screening benchmarks, including mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and lead.

Building on that work, DOH tested 46 candy products from 10 companies for heavy metals. Arsenic was detected in 28 of the products tested, prompting further evaluation of potential exposure risks, particularly for children. The results released today are intended to provide families with clear, accessible information and promote accountability for products widely consumed by Florida’s children.

“As parents and consumers, we should have confidence that the products sold in grocery stores are safe and free from poison,” said First Lady Casey DeSantis. “No one should have to wonder whether the food that they are feeding their children is quietly impacting their health over time. Through independent testing under the Healthy Florida First initiative, we are bringing sunlight and transparency to the quality of food in our food supply.”

“Food is an essential part of life, and we need it to be as safe and nutritious as possible,” said State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo. “We believe that evaluating risks and communicating our findings to the public are essentially steps for driving the change we seek in the food industry and improving the health of Floridians.”

The candy testing initiative is part of Florida’s broader Healthy Florida First effort, which focuses on clean and transparent food systems, accountability, and restoring trust in public health through evidence-based action. Both the previously released infant formula testing results and today’s candy testing results are available at ExposingFoodToxins.com.