Sweets imported from the US containing ingredients which are illegal in the UK are being advertised on TikTok and Instagram and have reportedly been seized from shops across the country. 

Popular stocking fillers such as Mountain Dew drinks, Jolly Ranchers, Swedish Fish and Lemon Heads have been banned by the government for having carcinogenic and genotoxic ingredients. But they are being advertised on the social media sites.

Trading standard officers also seized £8,000 of illegal sweets from 22 shops in Staffordshire, with more than £300 of banned confectionary found in a corner shop in Burton-upon-Trent including Jolly Ranchers, a BBC Morning Live investigation found. 

An estimated 3,000 products were found, amounting to about £8,500 worth of American sweets.  

Manufacturers say they are not involved with the sale of their products in the UK. 

Popular stocking fillers such as Mountain Dew drinks, Jolly Ranchers, Swedish Fish and Lemon Heads have been banned by the government (stock image)

Swedish Fish are reportedly one of the sweets being advertised on social media (stock image)

Stephanie Young, trading standards team leader in Staffordshire, told the broadcaster: ‘People are selling these products not realising they have banned ingredients in them.’

She added: ‘It’s obviously getting through the ports somewhere.

‘The volume of stuff that we get through the ports, only a small percentage will be checked,’ she said.

Emeritus Professor Erik Millstone from the University of Sussex described it as ‘concerning’ that banned products were being found on the shelves of UK retailers. 

And the report claims it was an issue concerning big retailers – not just local shops.  

Jolly Ranchers hard sweets contain mineral oil, which can reportedly lead to cancer formations if contaminated with other compounds. 

Mountain Dew drinks were said to have Calcium Disodium EDTA which is banned in the UK and believed to contribute to colon cancer. 

Ms Young said some of the products can be in the UK if they comply with food standards however the raid found American branded products not meant for the UK.

One of the banned ingredients in the UK found in American sweets is labelled as Red 3 and is said to add to hyperactive behaviour in children. 

Jolly Ranchers hard sweets contain mineral oil (stock image)

Manufacturers say they are not involved with the sale of their products in the UK (stock image)

Not all of American sweets contain ingredients banned in the UK.  

MailOnline has contacted the manufacturers of Jolly Ranchers, Mountain Dew drinks, Lemon Heads and Swedish Fish for comment. 

MailOnline has also contacted Trading Standards in Staffordshire for comment. 

CTSI chief executive, John Herriman, told the Scotsman: ‘The UK prides itself on high food standards but this very much relies on Trading Standards ensuring that what is on sale complies with the law. It’s therefore extremely worrying to learn that as we approach Christmas confectionary that we know will appeal to children is on sale in UK high streets, and that it could be linked to hyperactivity in kids, and even cancer.

‘Trading Standards work extremely hard to protect the public by removing dangerous products from sale, but the popularity of these items is being increased by videos on social media platforms, such as TikTok. The increase in demand means importers are sending these through our ports and borders in the millions, and these are then being widely distributed and ending up in retail stores and in the hands of children.’

He urged suppliers and retailers to take responsibility and remove items which contain unauthorised ingredients. 

Mr Herriman also warned parents to be aware.