Heavy Metal Index
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An unwrapped fruit ice pop, small jelly-candy cubes and separate amber and red hard candies illustrating hard candy ingredient context.

Heavy metals in Hard candy

Lead, cadmium, total arsenic and total mercury in hard candy: monitoring results, studies, references by form and basis, limits, testing and controls.

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Hard candy in the HMI library has 99 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium and uranium from 4 sources.1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →3Spungen JH, et al. · 2024Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →4Prattay KMR, Chowdhury MTA, Sarkar MR, Rahman T, Emon SZ, Hossain A, Rajib HG, Abdurrahim M · 2024Microbiological Analysis and Content of Heavy Metals in Different Candies, Chocolates, and Their Wrappers in BangladeshInternational Journal of Food Science 2024, Article ID 4536475, 13 pagesRead source →

Hard candy overview

Hard candy in the HMI library has 99 reported results for lead, cadmium, total arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium and uranium from 4 sources.1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →3Spungen JH, et al. · 2024Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →4Prattay KMR, Chowdhury MTA, Sarkar MR, Rahman T, Emon SZ, Hossain A, Rajib HG, Abdurrahim M · 2024Microbiological Analysis and Content of Heavy Metals in Different Candies, Chocolates, and Their Wrappers in BangladeshInternational Journal of Food Science 2024, Article ID 4536475, 13 pagesRead source → WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported lead in hard candy, as sold from 6 results in 1 reporting region, with subgroup medians below 20 µg/kg, mostly non-detects.1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source → In the US Total Diet Study, hard candy, as sold had a median lead result below 4 µg/kg across 3 composites from 2018–2020.2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →

Prattay et al. 2024 reported lead at 1,720 µg/kg (mean ± 20 SD) and cadmium at 98 µg/kg (mean ± 10 SD) in hard candy, as sold from hard candy brand S1, locally produced brand, Dhaka retail.4Prattay KMR, Chowdhury MTA, Sarkar MR, Rahman T, Emon SZ, Hossain A, Rajib HG, Abdurrahim M · 2024Microbiological Analysis and Content of Heavy Metals in Different Candies, Chocolates, and Their Wrappers in BangladeshInternational Journal of Food Science 2024, Article ID 4536475, 13 pagesRead source →

For a buyer the practical points are the form bought, the basis a result is reported on, where the hard candy came from and the laboratory’s reporting limit. Testing finds contamination but does not remove it.

What counts as hard candy

This page covers hard candy, as sold (99 results).1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →3Spungen JH, et al. · 2024Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →4Prattay KMR, Chowdhury MTA, Sarkar MR, Rahman T, Emon SZ, Hossain A, Rajib HG, Abdurrahim M · 2024Microbiological Analysis and Content of Heavy Metals in Different Candies, Chocolates, and Their Wrappers in BangladeshInternational Journal of Food Science 2024, Article ID 4536475, 13 pagesRead source →

Results stay on the basis each source reports: as sold or fresh weight, dry weight, or unstated. Dry-weight, as-sold and unstated results are never pooled, and no moisture conversion is applied.

Heavy metal contamination profile of hard candy

The table holds every extracted hard candy result: one row for each statistic a source reports for a form, group and metal, 99 rows in all, grouped by metal and form; percentiles, ranges and maxima for the same samples as a mean or median are shown on that row.1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →3Spungen JH, et al. · 2024Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →4Prattay KMR, Chowdhury MTA, Sarkar MR, Rahman T, Emon SZ, Hossain A, Rajib HG, Abdurrahim M · 2024Microbiological Analysis and Content of Heavy Metals in Different Candies, Chocolates, and Their Wrappers in BangladeshInternational Journal of Food Science 2024, Article ID 4536475, 13 pagesRead source → Monitoring medians are HMI calculations from individual submissions; non-detects remain intervals between zero and the reporting limit and are never read as zero.1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →

0 rows can be rated against an HMI reference for the same form and basis, 62 rows have a direct same-study comparison, and the rest stay unrated with the reason recorded.

Comparison methods and scope

Each row is one statistic a source reports for one form of hard candy, group and metal; percentiles, ranges and maxima reported for the same samples as a mean or median are shown on that row. Different forms and preparation states are kept apart, and dry-weight results never share a reference with as-sold or fresh-weight results. Ratings place a result against an HMI reference built from monitoring results and ordinary-setting medians for the same form and basis. Same-study contrasts compare a contaminated or treated site with its control, targeted with random sampling, a prepared form with the unprocessed one, or one group of a study with the median of its other groups. Held rows failed a check against their own source and are shown but not compared.

About this table
Food formCollection scopeFindingComparisonEvidence
Hard candy findings from monitoring programmes, total diet studies and every extracted field, market and contaminated-site study, in µg/kg with each source’s form, basis, statistic and censoring retained.
Food formCollection scopeFinding (µg/kg)ComparisonEvidence
26 findings · 4 studies
Hard candy, as soldWHO GEMS/FoodPAHO2013As sold / freshmedian.
Hard candy, as soldWHO GEMS/FoodPAHO2019As sold / freshmedian.
Hard candy, as soldFDA Total Diet Study1 collection regions2018–2020As sold / freshmedian.
Hard candy, as soldSpungen et al. 2024all samples2018–2020As sold / freshnot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S1, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S2, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S3, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S6, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S10, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S11Collection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S12, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S13Collection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S15, imported brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S16, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S17Collection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S18Collection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S19, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S20, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S21Collection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S22Collection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S23Collection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S32, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S33, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S34, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S38, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldWHO GEMS/FoodPAHO2021Basis not statedmedian.
24 findings · 4 studies
Hard candy, as soldWHO GEMS/FoodPAHO2014As sold / freshmedian.
Hard candy, as soldFDA Total Diet Study1 collection regions2018–2020As sold / freshmedian.
Hard candy, as soldSpungen et al. 2024all samples2018–2020As sold / freshnot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S1, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S2, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S3, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S6, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S10, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S11Collection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S12, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S13Collection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S15, imported brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S16, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S17Collection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S18Collection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S19, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S20, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S21Collection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S22Collection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S23Collection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S32, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S33, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S34, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S38, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
3 findings · 2 studies
Hard candy, as soldWHO GEMS/FoodEURO2014–2016As sold / freshmedian.
Hard candy, as soldWHO GEMS/FoodEURO2022–2023As sold / freshmedian.
Hard candy, as soldFDA Total Diet Study1 collection regions2018–2020As sold / freshmedian.
1 finding · 1 study
Hard candy, as soldFDA Total Diet Study1 collection regions2018–2020As sold / freshmedian.
22 findings · 2 studies
Hard candy, as soldFDA Total Diet Study1 collection regions2018–2020As sold / freshmedian.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S1, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S2, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S3, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S6, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S10, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S11Collection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S12, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S13Collection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S15, imported brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S16, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S17Collection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S18Collection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S19, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S20, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S21Collection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S22Collection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S23Collection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S32, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S33, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S34, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S38, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
22 findings · 2 studies
Hard candy, as soldFDA Total Diet Study1 collection regions2018–2020As sold / freshmedian.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S1, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S2, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S3, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S6, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S10, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S11Collection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S12, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S13Collection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S15, imported brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S16, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S17Collection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S18Collection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S19, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S20, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S21Collection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S22Collection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S23Collection date unreportednot detected.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S32, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S33, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S34, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
Hard candy, as soldPrattay et al. 2024hard candy brand S38, locally produced brand, Dhaka retailCollection date unreportedmean.
1 finding · 1 study
Hard candy, as soldFDA Total Diet Study1 collection regions2018–2020As sold / freshmedian.
Shared dataset methods and interpretation

Source summaries retain their original statistic, material, basis and censoring. Each source drawer identifies methods and overlapping samples. No matched reference or pooled distribution is inferred.

HMI hard candy Pb reference · Hard candy, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI hard candy Pb reference · Hard candy, as sold. Hard candy, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)Q1MedianQ3
Primary HMI reference≤4≤4≤4
Alternative weighting≤4≤4≤4

6 reference units; 3 sampling families. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.

Contributing familyReference unitsWeight
WHO GEMS/Food233%
FDA Total Diet Study333%
Spungen et al. 2024133%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for hard candy, as sold on a as sold, as eaten or fresh weight basis: monitoring results summarized as one median per reporting region, sampling type and collection year, total diet composites and printed sample values as single observations, and printed subgroup medians from ordinary farms or markets. Each sampling family has equal total weight. Non-detects stay as zero-to-limit intervals, so quartiles carry lower and upper bounds. Means, ranges and maxima never enter as observations. Other forms, other bases, targeted sampling and results from mining, industrial, wastewater-affected, experimental, fertiliser or manufacturer settings are kept out of this reference.

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

3 sampling families with different designs; none is a probability sample of world supply. Reporting regions and purchase markets are not growing areas. Non-detects with differing limits widen the bounds. A position is descriptive concentration, not a safety or compliance judgment.

Admitted source families

Reference version and interpretation

Frozen evidence selection: 2026-10-22. Method: hmi-pooled-reference-v2.

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:hard-candy-cb523453fe45:128cc6370c01

The reference is computed by HMI from admitted evidence, not copied from a study baseline. It describes the evidence currently in this scope; it is not a worldwide or current-lot benchmark. Source, year and region filters do not change it. Different HMI scopes are not one common ranking.

HMI hard candy Pb reference · Hard candy, as sold, basis not stated

Reference and scope

HMI hard candy Pb reference · Hard candy, as sold, basis not stated. Hard candy, as sold; Basis not stated by the source, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)Q1MedianQ3
Primary HMI reference≤3.6≤3.6≤3.6
Alternative weighting≤3.6≤3.6≤3.6

1 reference units; 1 sampling family. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.

Contributing familyReference unitsWeight
WHO GEMS/Food1100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for hard candy, as sold on a basis not stated by the source basis: monitoring results summarized as one median per reporting region, sampling type and collection year, total diet composites and printed sample values as single observations, and printed subgroup medians from ordinary farms or markets. Each sampling family has equal total weight. Non-detects stay as zero-to-limit intervals, so quartiles carry lower and upper bounds. Means, ranges and maxima never enter as observations. Other forms, other bases, targeted sampling and results from mining, industrial, wastewater-affected, experimental, fertiliser or manufacturer settings are kept out of this reference.

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

WHO GEMS/Food is the only compatible sampling family for hard candy, as sold on this basis in the completed hard candy ledger, so this single-family reference cannot represent other markets. Reporting regions and purchase markets are not growing areas. Non-detects with differing limits widen the bounds. A position is descriptive concentration, not a safety or compliance judgment.

Admitted source families

Reference version and interpretation

Frozen evidence selection: 2026-10-22. Method: hmi-pooled-reference-v2.

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:hard-candy-59b105817c4d:6cc7cdfad831

The reference is computed by HMI from admitted evidence, not copied from a study baseline. It describes the evidence currently in this scope; it is not a worldwide or current-lot benchmark. Source, year and region filters do not change it. Different HMI scopes are not one common ranking.

HMI hard candy Cd reference · Hard candy, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI hard candy Cd reference · Hard candy, as sold. Hard candy, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)Q1MedianQ3
Primary HMI reference≤1≤1≤2
Alternative weighting≤1≤1≤2

5 reference units; 3 sampling families. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.

Contributing familyReference unitsWeight
WHO GEMS/Food133%
FDA Total Diet Study333%
Spungen et al. 2024133%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for hard candy, as sold on a as sold, as eaten or fresh weight basis: monitoring results summarized as one median per reporting region, sampling type and collection year, total diet composites and printed sample values as single observations, and printed subgroup medians from ordinary farms or markets. Each sampling family has equal total weight. Non-detects stay as zero-to-limit intervals, so quartiles carry lower and upper bounds. Means, ranges and maxima never enter as observations. Other forms, other bases, targeted sampling and results from mining, industrial, wastewater-affected, experimental, fertiliser or manufacturer settings are kept out of this reference.

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

3 sampling families with different designs; none is a probability sample of world supply. Reporting regions and purchase markets are not growing areas. Non-detects with differing limits widen the bounds. A position is descriptive concentration, not a safety or compliance judgment.

Admitted source families

Reference version and interpretation

Frozen evidence selection: 2026-10-22. Method: hmi-pooled-reference-v2.

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:hard-candy-b46549c15a76:507aade0fd78

The reference is computed by HMI from admitted evidence, not copied from a study baseline. It describes the evidence currently in this scope; it is not a worldwide or current-lot benchmark. Source, year and region filters do not change it. Different HMI scopes are not one common ranking.

HMI hard candy tAs reference · Hard candy, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI hard candy tAs reference · Hard candy, as sold. Hard candy, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)Q1MedianQ3
Primary HMI reference≤135.5–32.5 (bounded)13–125 (bounded)
Alternative weighting≤135.5–32.5 (bounded)13–125 (bounded)

5 reference units; 2 sampling families. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.

Contributing familyReference unitsWeight
WHO GEMS/Food250%
FDA Total Diet Study350%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for hard candy, as sold on a as sold, as eaten or fresh weight basis: monitoring results summarized as one median per reporting region, sampling type and collection year, total diet composites and printed sample values as single observations, and printed subgroup medians from ordinary farms or markets. Each sampling family has equal total weight. Non-detects stay as zero-to-limit intervals, so quartiles carry lower and upper bounds. Means, ranges and maxima never enter as observations. Other forms, other bases, targeted sampling and results from mining, industrial, wastewater-affected, experimental, fertiliser or manufacturer settings are kept out of this reference.

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

2 sampling families with different designs; none is a probability sample of world supply. Reporting regions and purchase markets are not growing areas. Non-detects with differing limits widen the bounds. A position is descriptive concentration, not a safety or compliance judgment.

Admitted source families

Reference version and interpretation

Frozen evidence selection: 2026-10-22. Method: hmi-pooled-reference-v2.

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:hard-candy-7bf6ab4c2be4:85339df66376

The reference is computed by HMI from admitted evidence, not copied from a study baseline. It describes the evidence currently in this scope; it is not a worldwide or current-lot benchmark. Source, year and region filters do not change it. Different HMI scopes are not one common ranking.

HMI hard candy tHg reference · Hard candy, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI hard candy tHg reference · Hard candy, as sold. Hard candy, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)Q1MedianQ3
Primary HMI reference≤1≤1≤1
Alternative weighting≤1≤1≤1

3 reference units; 1 sampling family. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.

Contributing familyReference unitsWeight
FDA Total Diet Study3100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for hard candy, as sold on a as sold, as eaten or fresh weight basis: monitoring results summarized as one median per reporting region, sampling type and collection year, total diet composites and printed sample values as single observations, and printed subgroup medians from ordinary farms or markets. Each sampling family has equal total weight. Non-detects stay as zero-to-limit intervals, so quartiles carry lower and upper bounds. Means, ranges and maxima never enter as observations. Other forms, other bases, targeted sampling and results from mining, industrial, wastewater-affected, experimental, fertiliser or manufacturer settings are kept out of this reference.

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for hard candy, as sold on this basis in the completed hard candy ledger, so this single-family reference cannot represent other markets. Reporting regions and purchase markets are not growing areas. Non-detects with differing limits widen the bounds. A position is descriptive concentration, not a safety or compliance judgment.

Admitted source families

Reference version and interpretation

Frozen evidence selection: 2026-10-22. Method: hmi-pooled-reference-v2.

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:hard-candy-cbd255b7a0ef:34bbfdd2c223

The reference is computed by HMI from admitted evidence, not copied from a study baseline. It describes the evidence currently in this scope; it is not a worldwide or current-lot benchmark. Source, year and region filters do not change it. Different HMI scopes are not one common ranking.

HMI hard candy Ni reference · Hard candy, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI hard candy Ni reference · Hard candy, as sold. Hard candy, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)Q1MedianQ3
Primary HMI reference≤40≤40≤40
Alternative weighting≤40≤40≤40

3 reference units; 1 sampling family. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.

Contributing familyReference unitsWeight
FDA Total Diet Study3100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for hard candy, as sold on a as sold, as eaten or fresh weight basis: monitoring results summarized as one median per reporting region, sampling type and collection year, total diet composites and printed sample values as single observations, and printed subgroup medians from ordinary farms or markets. Each sampling family has equal total weight. Non-detects stay as zero-to-limit intervals, so quartiles carry lower and upper bounds. Means, ranges and maxima never enter as observations. Other forms, other bases, targeted sampling and results from mining, industrial, wastewater-affected, experimental, fertiliser or manufacturer settings are kept out of this reference.

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for hard candy, as sold on this basis in the completed hard candy ledger, so this single-family reference cannot represent other markets. Reporting regions and purchase markets are not growing areas. Non-detects with differing limits widen the bounds. A position is descriptive concentration, not a safety or compliance judgment.

Admitted source families

Reference version and interpretation

Frozen evidence selection: 2026-10-22. Method: hmi-pooled-reference-v2.

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:hard-candy-7b34a054d828:10d270b3c8f3

The reference is computed by HMI from admitted evidence, not copied from a study baseline. It describes the evidence currently in this scope; it is not a worldwide or current-lot benchmark. Source, year and region filters do not change it. Different HMI scopes are not one common ranking.

HMI hard candy Cr reference · Hard candy, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI hard candy Cr reference · Hard candy, as sold. Hard candy, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)Q1MedianQ3
Primary HMI reference≤50≤50≤50
Alternative weighting≤50≤50≤50

3 reference units; 1 sampling family. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.

Contributing familyReference unitsWeight
FDA Total Diet Study3100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for hard candy, as sold on a as sold, as eaten or fresh weight basis: monitoring results summarized as one median per reporting region, sampling type and collection year, total diet composites and printed sample values as single observations, and printed subgroup medians from ordinary farms or markets. Each sampling family has equal total weight. Non-detects stay as zero-to-limit intervals, so quartiles carry lower and upper bounds. Means, ranges and maxima never enter as observations. Other forms, other bases, targeted sampling and results from mining, industrial, wastewater-affected, experimental, fertiliser or manufacturer settings are kept out of this reference.

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for hard candy, as sold on this basis in the completed hard candy ledger, so this single-family reference cannot represent other markets. Reporting regions and purchase markets are not growing areas. Non-detects with differing limits widen the bounds. A position is descriptive concentration, not a safety or compliance judgment.

Admitted source families

Reference version and interpretation

Frozen evidence selection: 2026-10-22. Method: hmi-pooled-reference-v2.

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:hard-candy-d43ed6314ab9:3b3b7511d44b

The reference is computed by HMI from admitted evidence, not copied from a study baseline. It describes the evidence currently in this scope; it is not a worldwide or current-lot benchmark. Source, year and region filters do not change it. Different HMI scopes are not one common ranking.

HMI hard candy U reference · Hard candy, as sold

Reference and scope

HMI hard candy U reference · Hard candy, as sold. Hard candy, as sold; As sold, as eaten or fresh weight, µg/kg; no moisture conversion. Distribution of subgroup median concentration values.

Reference (µg/kg)Q1MedianQ3
Primary HMI reference≤1≤1≤1
Alternative weighting≤1≤1≤1

3 reference units; 1 sampling family. Counts describe evidence units, not independent studies or certainty.

Contributing familyReference unitsWeight
FDA Total Diet Study3100%

Methods

HMI pools subgroup medians for hard candy, as sold on a as sold, as eaten or fresh weight basis: monitoring results summarized as one median per reporting region, sampling type and collection year, total diet composites and printed sample values as single observations, and printed subgroup medians from ordinary farms or markets. Each sampling family has equal total weight. Non-detects stay as zero-to-limit intervals, so quartiles carry lower and upper bounds. Means, ranges and maxima never enter as observations. Other forms, other bases, targeted sampling and results from mining, industrial, wastewater-affected, experimental, fertiliser or manufacturer settings are kept out of this reference.

Inverse weighted empirical CDF; midpoint at exact cumulative-weight boundaries. At least four reference units and a definitely positive Q1–Q3 spread are required. This is a display eligibility rule, not statistical validation.

Limitations

FDA Total Diet Study is the only compatible sampling family for hard candy, as sold on this basis in the completed hard candy ledger, so this single-family reference cannot represent other markets. Reporting regions and purchase markets are not growing areas. Non-detects with differing limits widen the bounds. A position is descriptive concentration, not a safety or compliance judgment.

Admitted source families

Reference version and interpretation

Frozen evidence selection: 2026-10-22. Method: hmi-pooled-reference-v2.

hmi-pooled-reference-v2:hard-candy-71ca1de0e2e4:c777dae56e6e

The reference is computed by HMI from admitted evidence, not copied from a study baseline. It describes the evidence currently in this scope; it is not a worldwide or current-lot benchmark. Source, year and region filters do not change it. Different HMI scopes are not one common ranking.

1 dataset

How metals reach hard candy

No study in the library compared hard candy from contaminated and ordinary settings, so the routes by which metals reach it are not measured here.

Which forms and regions measured lower

The HMI reference for lead in hard candy, as sold pools 6 subgroup units from 3 sampling families, with a median of below 4 µg/kg and a middle half spanning below 4 (lower quartile) and below 4 µg/kg (upper quartile).1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →3Spungen JH, et al. · 2024Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source → For cadmium in hard candy, as sold, the reference median was below 1 µg/kg, with a middle half from below 1 to below 2 µg/kg across 5 units.1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →3Spungen JH, et al. · 2024Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source → For total arsenic in hard candy, as sold, the reference median was between 5.5 and 32.5 µg/kg, with a middle half from below 13 to between 13 and 125 µg/kg across 5 units.1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →

In one study, lead across 17 groups of hard candy ranged from 750 µg/kg (hard candy brand S3, locally produced brand, Dhaka retail) to 2,400 µg/kg (hard candy brand S10, locally produced brand, Dhaka retail); the lowest is the lowest observed in that study, not an established sourcing preference.4Prattay KMR, Chowdhury MTA, Sarkar MR, Rahman T, Emon SZ, Hossain A, Rajib HG, Abdurrahim M · 2024Microbiological Analysis and Content of Heavy Metals in Different Candies, Chocolates, and Their Wrappers in BangladeshInternational Journal of Food Science 2024, Article ID 4536475, 13 pagesRead source →

Processing, cooking and preparation

No study in the library measured the same hard candy before and after washing, peeling, drying or cooking for metals, so no processing effect can be stated. Heat does not destroy metals; cooking or drying changes a concentration by moving water or metal, not by removing the element.

Mitigation for hard candy

No control for metals in hard candy was measured in the library; lot testing against the applicable limit remains the verifiable step.

No study in this library has yet measured a way to lower heavy metals in hard candy; the results above show the levels measured, and lot testing against the applicable limit remains the verifiable check.

Trade-offs and limits of controls

Metals do not move together, so a lot that passes a lead limit says little about cadmium, arsenic or nickel unless those are tested as well.

Testing hard candy for metals

Results depend on the method and its reporting limit. Reporting limits for lead ranged from 1 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food) to 20 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food), so a non-detect from a less sensitive method says much less.1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source → Reporting limits for cadmium ranged from 1 µg/kg (FDA Total Diet Study) to 2 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food), so a non-detect from a less sensitive method says much less.1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source → Reporting limits for total arsenic ranged from 3 µg/kg (FDA Total Diet Study) to 200 µg/kg (WHO GEMS/Food), so a non-detect from a less sensitive method says much less.1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →

A useful lot result names the form, the basis and a quantification limit well below the limit that applies.

Buying and verifying hard candy

No maximum level for metals in hard candy was verified from primary text for this page; buyers should confirm the limit that applies in the destination market.

Exposure from hard candy

No source in the library converted hard candy concentrations into a verified estimate of intake for a defined population. Concentrations describe the food, not individual risk.

Evidence review and remaining gaps

Every source record that names hard candy was decided on its content: 4 occurrence extracted, 4 records in all. The occurrence table renders every extracted result; held values remain visible with their reason.

References identify the sources used in these answers. The Sources index preserves additional discovery links; inclusion there does not mean a source has been reviewed for this assessment. Corrections, completed searches, new direct evidence and changes in requirements should reopen the relevant answer.

Hard candy FAQs

What heavy metals are found in hard candy?

The library reports lead, cadmium, total arsenic, total mercury, nickel, chromium and uranium in hard candy, most often lead, cadmium and total arsenic.1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →2U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2022FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsFDA Total Diet StudyRead source →3Spungen JH, et al. · 2024Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Food Additives & Contaminants: Part ARead source →4Prattay KMR, Chowdhury MTA, Sarkar MR, Rahman T, Emon SZ, Hossain A, Rajib HG, Abdurrahim M · 2024Microbiological Analysis and Content of Heavy Metals in Different Candies, Chocolates, and Their Wrappers in BangladeshInternational Journal of Food Science 2024, Article ID 4536475, 13 pagesRead source → WHO GEMS/Food submissions reported lead in hard candy, as sold from 6 results in 1 reporting region, with subgroup medians below 20 µg/kg, mostly non-detects.1World Health Organization · 2026GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsGEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment ProgrammeRead source →

Which origins or products of hard candy measured lowest?

In one study, lead across 17 groups of hard candy ranged from 750 µg/kg (hard candy brand S3, locally produced brand, Dhaka retail) to 2,400 µg/kg (hard candy brand S10, locally produced brand, Dhaka retail); the lowest is the lowest observed in that study, not an established sourcing preference.4Prattay KMR, Chowdhury MTA, Sarkar MR, Rahman T, Emon SZ, Hossain A, Rajib HG, Abdurrahim M · 2024Microbiological Analysis and Content of Heavy Metals in Different Candies, Chocolates, and Their Wrappers in BangladeshInternational Journal of Food Science 2024, Article ID 4536475, 13 pagesRead source →

References

Works cited on this page, in citation-number order. See Sources for this page’s source inventory. Each title links to a source record with bibliographic details, reported findings, and document provenance.

  1. GEMS/Food Contaminants database heavy-metal exportsWorld Health Organization · GEMS/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment Programme · 2026 · extranet.who.intDataset
  2. FY2018-FY2020 TDS Elements Analytical ResultsU.S. Food and Drug Administration · FDA Total Diet Study · 2022 · www.fda.govDataset
  3. Infants’ and young children’s dietary exposures to lead and cadmium: FDA total diet study 2018-2020Spungen JH and et al. · Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A · 2024 · doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2024.2396910Peer-reviewed
  4. Microbiological Analysis and Content of Heavy Metals in Different Candies, Chocolates, and Their Wrappers in BangladeshPrattay KMR, Chowdhury MTA, Sarkar MR, Rahman T, Emon SZ, Hossain A, et al. · International Journal of Food Science 2024, Article ID 4536475, 13 pages · 2024 · doi.org/10.1155/2024/4536475Peer-reviewed

Sources

Browse Hard candy Sources for sources cited on this page and additional discovery candidates. The searchable index distinguishes verified citation use from discovery relationships whose relevance has not been established.

Update history

22 October 2026: Rebuilt from every hard candy record in the library: 4 occurrence sources, references by form and basis, same-study contrasts.

Graph View