Newly published testing results from the “Healthy Florida First” initiative shows elevated levels of arsenic in a wide range of products.

The Healthy Florida First initiative—a statewide program that tests for contaminants in food products—was announced earlier in January by Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis, alongside the publication of its first report focused on toxic heavy metals in infant formulas. The program represents a $5 million investment to expand product testing for contaminants like heavy metals, bacteria, pesticides, and microplastics. This investment was described by Governor Ron DeSantis as aligned with the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda.

Accompanying the release of the test results for contaminants in candy, First Lady DeSantis announced that Florida has expanded the Healthy Florida First initiative to include the evaluation of “other products marketed for children.”   

For the most recent testing assignment, the Florida Department of Health collected 46 candy products from ten brands and assessed the presence of toxic heavy metals. Arsenic was detected in 28 products. DOH calculated “safe” consumption amounts for each candy in which arsenic was detected, although details about how these limits were calculated were not provided.

The levels of arsenic in candy topped out at 570 parts per billion (ppb) in Tootsie Fruit Chew Lime samples, amounting to a “safe” consumption limit of 8 pieces per year for children and 20 pieces per year for adults.

Candy brands with no detected arsenic in their products included Yum Earth, Unreal, Annie’s, Reese’s, and Whoppers.

Candy Industry Response

The National Confectioners' Association (NCA) said "The recent announcement from the State of Florida is misguided and demonstrates a glaring lack of transparency related to data-driven, scientific safety thresholds and the evaluation of confectionery products... The methodology used in [the] report relies on ‘screening benchmarks’ that do not align with current federal regulatory standards or recognized peer-reviewed science for confectionery products. By calculating risk based on hypothetical annual consumption levels, this report risks causing unnecessary consumer confusion."

NCA also cited FDA's latest Total Diet Study data, saying the levels of arsenic in confectionery reported by FDA are much lower than what is reported by Florida.

Update, February 9, 2026: Toxicologists say the Healthy Florida First reports' lack of transparency around the methodology and risk assessment make the findings difficult for experts to interpret and raises question about the relevance to consumer health. Read more here.