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Russell Stover Peppermint Melts Smooth White Fudge With Naturally Flavored Crushed Peppermint Covered In Rich Dark Chocolate, Peppermint Melts

Russell Stover Candies Inc. · Chocolate · barcode 00077260048578

What stands out

  • From the label

    The ingredients list Titanium dioxide and Red No. 40 (Allura Red), which have stricter rules elsewhere. Strictest: Not allowed in the EU since 2022; West Virginia ban from 2028. Details

  • Lab testsNo lab has published results for this exact product.
  • RecallsNo FDA recall lists this barcode.
  • Additives2 ingredients have stricter rules elsewhere. Strictest: Not allowed in the EU since 2022; West Virginia ban from 2028. Which
  • TypicalFDA's tests of chocolate show what's typical. See levels
  • Others3 other chocolate products have lab results. Compare them

Additives with restrictions somewhere

From the ingredient list on file (label data dated 2021-07-29). Recipes change, so check the package you have.

Rules that apply to more than one of these

  • US (FDA): Allowed Source. Applies to all of them.
  • Texas: Warning label required from 2027-01-01 Labels developed on or after January 1, 2027 must warn that the product contains an ingredient not recommended for consumption in Australia, Canada, the EU or the UK. (SB 25 (2025)) Source. Applies to all of them.

Titanium dioxide (E171)

  • EU: Removed from approved list from 2022-08-07 Removed as a food additive in 2022; food made under the old rules could be sold until August 7, 2022. (Regulation (EU) 2022/63) Source

Red No. 40 (Allura Red) (E129)

  • EU: Allowed with warning label Allowed as E129, but foods containing it must say it "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children." (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex V) Source
  • California: Banned in school meals from 2027-12-31 Banned in food and drinks offered in California public schools from December 31, 2027. (AB 2316 (2024)) Source
  • West Virginia: Banned from 2028-01-01 Food containing it is treated as adulterated in West Virginia from January 1, 2028. (HB 2354 (2025)) Source
  • West Virginia: Banned in school meals from 2025-08-01 Banned in West Virginia school meals since August 1, 2025. (HB 2354 (2025)) Source
  • Louisiana: Banned in school meals from 2028-2029 school year Banned in Louisiana school food from the 2028-2029 school year (concession stands and vending machines exempt). (SB 14, Act 463 (2025)) Source
  • Louisiana: Warning label required from 2028-01-01 Products containing it must carry a QR code disclosure from January 1, 2028. (SB 14, Act 463 (2025)) Source

Typical for chocolate

What FDA found when it bought and tested this kind of food across the US. These are not tests of this product.

FDA samples behind these numbers
  • Lead in Candy bar, chocolate, nougat, with nuts: found in 0 of 3 samples, all below 4 ppb (2018-2020)
  • Lead in Candy bar, milk chocolate, plain: found in 3 of 3 samples, average 7.93, highest 8.3 ppb (2018-2020)
  • Cadmium in Candy bar, chocolate, nougat, with nuts: found in 3 of 3 samples, average 15.7, highest 17 ppb (2018-2020)
  • Cadmium in Candy bar, milk chocolate, plain: found in 3 of 3 samples, average 20, highest 26 ppb (2018-2020)
  • Mercury in Candy bar, chocolate, nougat, with nuts: found in 0 of 3 samples, all below 1 ppb (2018-2020)
  • Mercury in Candy bar, milk chocolate, plain: found in 1 of 3 samples, average 0.57, highest 1.7 ppb (2018-2020)
  • Arsenic (total) in Candy bar, chocolate, nougat, with nuts: found in 2 of 3 samples, average 3.63, highest 7.8 ppb (2018-2020)
  • Arsenic (total) in Candy bar, milk chocolate, plain: found in 2 of 3 samples, average 2.13, highest 3.3 ppb (2018-2020)
  • Perchlorate in Candy bar, chocolate, nougat, and nuts: found in 15 of 20 samples, average 2.52, highest 9 ppb (2008-2012)
  • Perchlorate in Candy bar, milk chocolate, plain: found in 19 of 20 samples, average 8.92, highest 15 ppb (2008-2012)

"Typically" is FDA's middle sample. Daily amounts use the long-run average and each chemical's daily limit (EPA reference dose, or FDA's level for lead) for a 33-lb toddler and a 154-lb adult. ppb = micrograms per kilogram of food. Source: FDA Total Diet Study.

Not tested

No published results for this product cover: Metals, Perchlorate, Phthalates (plastic softeners), Phthalate substitutes, Bisphenols. That means nobody has published a test, not that these are absent.

Ingredients (from the label)

DARK CHOCOLATE {SUGAR, CHOCOLATE PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, COCOA BUTTER, MILK FAT, SOY LECITHIN (EMULSIFIER), VANILLIN (ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR)}, WHITE FUDGE {SUGAR, PALM KERNEL OIL, NONFAT DRY MILK, WHOLE MILK POWDER, HYDROGENATED PALM OIL, SOY LECITHIN (EMULSIFIER), VANILLIN (ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR), SALT}, COCONUT OIL, MILK FAT, PEPPERMINT CANDY (SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, NATURAL PEPPERMINT FLAVOR, FD&C RED 40) AND PEPPERMINT OIL.

From USDA FoodData Central, label dated 2021-07-29. Labels change; check the package.

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