Popular lollies hit a sour note

Many popular sour lollies have the potential to cause permanent damage to tooth enamel as well as burns, ulceration and bleeding to tongues and gums.

Following Facebook reports that a number of children had received burns to their tongues and gums after consuming the products, consumer group CHOICE tested 20 different sour lolly products and found their acid levels all fell in the danger zone for tooth enamel and damage to soft tissues from prolonged contact.

“Obviously you don’t expect lollies to be healthy but you also don’t expect them to harm your child. The side effects of extremely acidic lollies could be more than you’d bargained for,” said CHOICE Head of Media Tom Godfrey, who said sucking and holding highly acidic lollies against your tongue, cheeks or gums for extended periods of time could cause soft tissue damage.

CHOICE’s acid test found every sour lolly tested had a pH of less than 3.3 — a pH of 5.5 or less is the danger zone for enamel erosion.

“Irreversible damage to teeth is a real threat from these products. Under acidic conditions tooth enamel can start to dissolve, and the more acid in the mouth, the harder it is for a person’s saliva to neutralise its effects and protect teeth,” said Godfrey.

“When you consider stomach acid has a pH of about one, sucking on TNT Mega Sour Grenade (pH 1.83) and Brain Licker Sour Candy Drink (pH 1.94) could seem less appealing.

“Toxic Waste Sour Smog Balls (pH 2.3) and Warheads Juniors Extreme Sour (pH 2.39) were also highly acidic, as was Toxic Waste Hazardously Sour Candy (pH 2.3) that challenges kids to keep the lollies in their mouths for up to 60 seconds to be crowned a ‘full toxic head’,” he said.