Konjac jellies recalled from US market
their jelly products from the market, following FDA advice that the
jellies pose a serious threat to children.
Two US companies have joined numerous others worldwide in recalling their jelly products from the market, following FDA advice that the jellies pose a serious threat to children.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that Walong Marketing in California has recalled its Mini Jelly Snack Cups from the market and last week, Joaly Enterprise Company ended distribution of its Mini Fruit Jellys.
The sweets contain konjac, also known as conjac, konnyakn, yam flour or glucomannan. While the sweet itself is a choking hazard, the konjac does not dissolve easily and this greatly increases the risk.
Last year the UK Food Standards Agency, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Australian New Zealand Food Authority(ANZFA) all took actions to alert the public to the potential danger of the sweets.
According to Mr Lindenmayer of ANZFA, "Konjac is used to bind ingredients in the jellies. Unfortunately, konjac's ability to bind can also make it stick to the throat, causing a constriction of the airways and choking. The sticking can be so severe that normal methods of removing such obstructions from choking victims do not work when these jellies become lodged in the throat.As many as 16 children worldwide may have died from the products.
The FDA contacted the importer and distributor Joaly Enterprise Company, when it learned that the firm had distributed the mini-cup jellies. The firm is voluntarily recalling the product.
The FDA has already issued two general warnings and previous recalls have been widely reported, but the products, which are packaged in small, sealed plastic cups, still remain on the market.
