EU removes jelly confectionery from the market
health officials decided on Tuesday to remove a sweet called jelly
mini-cups from European markets amid fears that an ingredient could
cause fatal choking in children.
Following a series of recalls across the world, European Union food health officials decided on Tuesday to remove a sweet called jelly mini-cups from European markets amid fears that an ingredient could cause fatal choking in children.
The dangerous additive, known as konjac, is a gelling agent and thickener used in food products and is also known as yam flour, conjac and glucomannan.
The decision was taken after some Canadian and US children died from choking on the individually packaged sweets, the European Commission said in a statement.
The Commission said the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health agreed that warnings used by some manufacturers, highlighting the risk of the ingredient to children and the elderly, were not enough to protect the very young. It called for a suspension of the use of konjac in similar products.
"This implies that manufacturers and importers will have to recall all jelly mini-cups and other jelly confectionary containing konjac from shop shelves," the Commission said.
It added that the product was considered a risk because of its shape and form as well as for its ingredients. The measure will be adopted across the EU in a few days.
