Florida officials release results of candy testing to provide families with more transparency under the Healthy Florida First initiative
The Villages, Florida – Governor Ron DeSantis, First Lady Casey DeSantis, and Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo today unveiled the results of recent candy testing conducted as part of the state’s Healthy Florida First initiative, emphasizing food safety, transparency, and accountability for products marketed to children. The announcement, made at a press event in The Villages, builds on earlier testing of infant formula products and expands the state’s efforts to ensure that families have clear information about what they feed their 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.”
The Department of Health (DOH) tested 46 candy products from 10 companies to determine the presence of heavy metals, including arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. The results revealed arsenic in 28 of the products tested, highlighting potential exposure risks for children who consume these items regularly. While the testing does not provide definitive evidence of harm, it is intended to help families make informed decisions about the foods their children eat and to encourage accountability from manufacturers.
Earlier this month, the state released results from similar testing of 24 infant formula products from seven major brands. That testing had identified elevated levels of heavy metals, prompting statewide attention and calls for increased scrutiny of products marketed to the youngest consumers. The candy testing is part of the next phase of Healthy Florida First, extending the focus beyond infant nutrition to commonly consumed foods for children of all ages.
“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.”
State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo emphasized that the initiative is about both identifying potential risks and communicating them to the public in a clear, accessible manner. “Food is an essential part of life, and we need it to be as safe and nutritious as possible,” he said. “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 results, along with previously released infant formula results, are publicly available at ExposingFoodToxins.com. Families, educators, and caregivers can access the information to make informed decisions and to better understand potential long-term health risks associated with heavy metal exposure.
The Healthy Florida First initiative reflects the state’s broader goal of fostering clean and transparent food systems while restoring public trust through evidence-based action. By highlighting possible hazards in everyday food products, the state is urging manufacturers to improve safety standards and giving families tools to make choices that prioritize their children’s well-being.
With Florida’s population continuing to grow and concern over childhood nutrition rising, the state’s focus on independent testing and transparency represents a significant step in providing parents with reliable, actionable information. Officials stressed that these efforts are intended to complement broader national food safety regulations while offering an added layer of scrutiny specifically for products popular with children.
By releasing these results, the DeSantis administration continues to advocate for accountability in the food industry, encouraging manufacturers to ensure that products marketed to children meet the highest safety standards. Families are encouraged to review the findings, monitor their children’s consumption of certain products, and stay informed about future Healthy Florida First initiatives.
