New regulations proposed to enhance safety of konjac jelly products

Authorities have proposed that jelly products containing konjac must not be smaller than 45 millimeters in height or width to address choking hazards.

This came after the Centre for Food Safety, after reviewing the associated risks and regulatory practices in major economies, suggested amendments to regulate the size and composition of these jelly products.

According to the new proposal, small cup jelly products that are 45 millimeters or smaller in either height or width will be banned from containing konjac. Moreover, all pre-packaged jelly products with konjac must carry a warning label that reads, "Caution: Do not swallow whole, to be consumed under adult supervision by seniors and children."

These proposals are scheduled for discussion at the Legislative Council's Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene this Thursday.

Documents submitted to the Legislative Council reveal that the Centre for Food Safety, in collaboration with the Education Bureau, has recommended that schools stop selling or providing small cup konjac jellies in school canteens and snack kiosks.

The authorities intend to adopt a "legislate first, review later" approach, planning to publish the amendments and submit them for Legislative Council review by mid-year.

The proposed regulations concerning the size and ingredients of small cup jelly products are set to take effect six months after the ordinance is passed, while the labeling requirements would be implemented twelve months after the amendment.

The Centre for Food Safety has consulted the Food Safety Expert Committee, which supported the amendments, and also sought feedback from the industry last month, which raised no objections. The proposed changes have been notified to the World Trade Organization.

The document also highlights that the firm texture and unique design of small cup konjac jellies can pose a choking risk, particularly to children, with fatal incidents occasionally reported worldwide.

In Hong Kong, following the choking death of a young girl at school last year who consumed a product containing konjac, a coroner suggested that the Centre for Food Safety consider banning small cup konjac jellies.

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