Viral videos have driven demand for imported sweets, with convenience stores and high-street retailers stocking these products in record numbers in response, according to The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI).
However, many of these products fail to meet UK safety and legal standards, lacking proper allergen declaration or containing unauthorised additives with known health risks.
Dean Cooke, CTSI lead officer for food, said: “Social media has amplified the demand for American sweets, with influencers on platforms like TikTok showcasing these colourful products in ways that appeal to children and teenagers.
‘Dangerous market’
“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.”
Staffordshire County Council’s Trading Standards team has seized more than 3,000 items valued at £8,500 during one recent pilot project funded by the Food Standards Agency.
The inspections found that 89% of products failed to comply with UK standards, with common issues including unauthorised additives, missing English labelling or allergen declarations and expired products still being sold.
Councillor Victoria Wilson, cabinet member with responsibility for Trading Standards at Staffordshire County Council, added: “Our Trading Standards team works tirelessly to ensure that food sold in Staffordshire complies with safety standards. During this pilot project, we were alarmed to find over 3,300 unsafe items on sale, many of which contained unauthorised ingredients and were targeted at children.
‘Harmful additives’
“These items are often poorly labelled and can contain harmful additives, posing serious public health concerns. Parents need to stay alert and avoid products with unclear labelling, especially during the festive season.”
Operation Tootsie, an earlier Trading Standards initiative, revealed a 77% failure rate among products purchased from national retailers and an even higher 91% failure rate among importers.
“Importers, by law, have to re-label products with a UK/GB address,” Cooke concluded. “If there is any problem with the food, customers and Trading Standards may need to contact a legally responsible person in this country. If food does not have a UK/GB address on the label, we would advise for them not to buy it.”
Meanwhile, following several evidence gathering sessions, the House of Lords has published a set of recommendations for the Government to address diet-related illness in the UK. Here’s an easy breakdown of the main takeaways.
