Mini fruit gel sweets containing konjac 16 Sept 2003

Tuesday 16 September 2003

Category B: For Action

The Food Standards Agency has been advised that mini fruit gel sweets containing konjac, produced in Taiwan, have been found on retail sale in the UK. These products were imported into the UK by an importer no longer trading at their last known address. Due to the potential choking hazard posed by jelly confectionery containing konjac, such products were banned in the UK in April 2002 under the following legislation:

The Food (Jelly Confectionery) (Emergency Control) (England) Regulations 2002

The Food (Jelly Confectionery) (Emergency Control) (Wales) Regulations 2002

The Food (Jelly Confectionery) (Emergency Control) (Scotland) Regulations 2002

The Food (Jelly Confectionery) (Emergency Control) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2002

Some mini fruit gel products do not contain konjac. These products are not affected by this alert.

Action to be taken by local authorities:

The following products manufactured by Tsang Lin Industries Ltd are specifically affected by this alert:

1. ABC Mini Fruit Bites in assorted flavours
These mini-cup jelly products are sold individually in dome shaped plastic cups about the size of a coffee creamer with a rounded edge or from 1kg plastic jars. Konjac is listed in the ingredients list on the reverse of the jar.

2. Cocode Nut Jellies in 408g bags in assorted flavours
These jellies are retailed in 408g bags in the following flavours: mango, taro, longan and guei ling gau. It should be noted that the brand name is not in English. Konjac is listed in the ingredients list on the reverse of the bag.

Both of these products were manufactured by Tsang Lin Industries Ltd, No 20 Industrial Park, 35th Road, Taichung, Taiwan R.O.C. Konjac is listed in the ingredients lists of these products.

Photographic examples of packaging for both types of product are available below. Additional information can also be obtained from the producer's website at: www.tsanglin.com.tw.

Food businesses that may sell mini fruit gel sweets or mini-cup jelly products should be identified and contacted or visited to ensure that these products are removed from sale immediately. It is illegal to sell jelly confectionery containing konjac.

Enforcement officers should be prepared to take appropriate enforcement action if the products are found on sale.

Port health authorities who discover imports of mini fruit gel sweets or other jelly confectionery products containing konjac are requested to take appropriate action under the relevant The Food (Jelly Confectionery) (Emergency Control) Regulations 2002 to ensure that the sweets are not distributed.

It is expected that action by local authorities will be initiated as soon as possible after receipt of this food hazard warning.