Published On: February 13, 2026 5:34 amLast Updated: February 12, 2026 3:40 pmBy

Yes.

The Florida Department of Health announced in January that it found arsenic in some popular candies after conducting testing.

Of the 46 candy products tested from 10 different companies, arsenic was detected in 28 of them, including Jolly Rancher Sour Apple and Twizzlers.

The FDA said that while it’s not possible to entirely prevent arsenic from entering the food supply through natural means, it can be reduced through changes in agricultural or manufacturing practices.

Scientists have questioned the results, however, as the FDH did not disclose its methodology for conducting the tests. They say it’s not clear if unsafe levels of arsenic were found in these candies, and how the FDH came to these conclusions.

So while the FDH may have found arsenic in candy, it did not scientifically disclose the level of threat these findings pose to the public.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Suncoast Searchlight partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

Sources