The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has issued a warning to parents about the raft of often trend-led sweets and drinks coming into the UK from America.
Often seen on TikTok and similar social channels, and popular in convenience stores, countless colourful US lines have been flooding the high street over the past year or so, and as Christmas approached, many will see them as the ideal stocking filler.
As retailers stock these products in record numbers to meet seasonal demand, many of them actually fail to meet UK safety and legal standards, lack proper allergen declarations or contain unauthorised additives with health risks.
Staffordshire County Council’s Trading Standards team has been leading efforts to address the growing issue. During a pilot project funded by the Food Standards Agency, they seized 3,378 items valued at £8,500 from local shops. These products, often manufactured for foreign markets, contained unauthorised additives such as colouring, additives, as well as many being out of date or with incorrect allergen information.
In addition to these findings, recent actions by Staffordshire’s Trading Standards team have uncovered further concerning statistics. Approximately 3,700 non-compliant products valued at £10,300 were confiscated during inspections, including some products with mineral oil, bleached flour or the banned additive carrageenan. The inspections also highlighted a 25% failure to comply rate in stores where American confectionery was identified and subsequently removed from shelves.
Dean Cooke, CTSI lead officer for food, explained: “Social media has amplified the demand for American sweets, with influencers showcasing these colourful products in ways that appeal to children and teenagers. While this drives seasonal sales, it also creates a dangerous market for items that fail to meet UK safety standards. Retailers must take responsibility to ensure compliance, and parents need to be vigilant in checking labels to protect their children from potential harm.”
Councillor Victoria Wilson, cabinet member with responsibility for Trading Standards at Staffordshire County Council, added: “During this pilot we were alarmed to find over 3,300 unsafe items on sale, many of which contained unauthorised ingredients and were targeted at children. Parents need to stay alert and avoid products with unclear labelling, especially during the festive season.”
Trading Standards continue to tackle this growing issue through targeted operations, including working with national retailers and wholesalers. Anyone unsure about the safety of products in England and Wales can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133. You can get consumer advice applying to Northern Ireland by calling Consumerline on 0300 123 6262. Consumers In Scotland should contact Consumer Advice Scotland by calling 0808 164 6000.
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