Mini fruit gel sweets containing konjac potential choking hazard (UPDATED)
Thursday 7 March 2002
Category B: For Action
This Food Hazard Warning updates FHW 51/2001 (issued 14 December 2001) and Update 1 (issued 19 December 2001), and requests action by enforcement authorities.
FHW 51/2001 highlighted the potential hazard posed by these mini fruit gel sweets containing konjac. It advised that importers, distributors and retailers of these products should be identified, contacted or visited and advised that the FSA and the DTI take the view that these products should be removed from sale. Enforcement officers were also advised to be prepared to take formal enforcement action under the General Product Safety Regulations 1994 (GPSR 1994) where products are not withdrawn voluntarily.
Based on the information gathered and the advice by the Department of Health, the FSA believes that the mini fruit gel sweets containing konjac are not suitable for sale on the UK market because they present a choking hazard due to their small size, shape, consistency and solubility. Some of these products contain a small piece of fruit that may also present a hazard. The FSA and the DTI take the view that these sweets should be removed from sale.
Since FHW 51/2001 was issued, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been made aware that some of the mini fruit gel sweets may still be on retail sale, particularly in smaller outlets such as corner shops, newsagents, market stalls etc. Further, the FSA has recently learned of the death of a young child in the UK where the cause of death is at present unascertained. The death will be subject to a coroner's inquest in due course. The fact that a mini fruit gel sweet might have been involved in the death cannot be excluded at this stage.
Action to be Taken By Enforcement Authorities
Food businesses that may sell mini fruit gel sweets should be identified, contacted or visited, but concentrating on the sorts of smaller retail outlets mentioned above. They should be advised again that the FSA and DTI take the view that these products should be removed from sale. Enforcement officers should again be prepared to take formal enforcement action where products are not withdrawn voluntarily. DTI have confirmed that enforcement action (ie suspension notices and forfeiture) can be taken under the GPSR 1994 in the case of food products. The FSA has also confirmed with the DTI that the GPSR 1994 provides for enforcement action in the case of food products to be taken under Sections 9, 29, 30 and 32 of the Food Safety Act 1990 (FSA 1990). Enforcement authorities are therefore encouraged to make use of the FSA 1990 powers where appropriate.
FHW 51/2001 gave a detailed description of mini fruit gel sweets which enforcement authorities are referred to. The sweets are sold in various package sizes (eg bags, plastic jars etc), or individually. Examples of some of the products known to the FSA are available on the FSA and LACOTS websites.
Mini fruit gel sweets can be variously named. Those that the FSA is aware of are as below, but there may be other brand names on sale:
ABC Mini Fruit Bites
Fuji Coconut Flavor Jelly
Healthy Konnyaku Jelly
Jn Jin Konjac Coconut Mini Gel Snack
New Choice Mini Fruit Gels
New Century's Choice
Rolin Mango Jelly Cup
Troofy Gels
The following are not necessarily brand names, but are probably manufacturers, since the brand names were not given in English.
Mong Lee Shang (China) Fruit Jelly
Jian Fu Trading Co (Taiwan) Lichee Jelly
Enforcement authorities are again also encouraged to use local media coverage. The FSA has issued a press release (see below) which may be used by enforcement authorities as a guide to what to say in any local news release. However, before contacting the local media, enforcement authorities should refer to the DTI Guidance on Powers of Enforcement Authorities to issue Press Releases Relating to Product Safety (see attached).
Port Health Authorities who discover imports of mini fruit gel sweets are advised to take any necessary action to ensure the sweets are not distributed and then liaise with their local food standards enforcement authority.
Action Taken By The FSA
The FSA has issued a press statement.