HK to ban mini konjac jelly cups and mandate warnings from 2026

The sale of mini cup konjac jelly products measuring 45 millimeters or less in height or width will be prohibited starting April 1, 2026, under new regulations approved by Hong Kong’s Legislative Council. All other pre-packaged konjac jelly products will be required to display a prominent choking hazard warning on their packaging.

The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) (Amendment) Regulation 2025 was passed yesterday through the negative vetting procedure, with a government spokesperson saying that the rules aim to enhance food safety standards.

The updated regulation explicitly bans mini cup jelly products within the specified size range from containing konjac. Additionally, all pre-packaged konjac jelly must carry a bilingual warning in both Chinese and English that reads: “Caution: Do not swallow whole. Elderly and children must consume under supervision.”

The warning must be clearly visible—displayed in dark text on a light background, light text on a dark background, underlined, or in red on a white or yellow background.

The government spokesperson emphasized that while konjac itself is safe to eat, the unique size and firm texture of these jelly products can pose serious choking risks, particularly for children and the elderly.

To support compliance and raise public awareness, the Centre for Food Safety will issue industry guidelines and conduct briefings to help manufacturers and retailers adapt to the new requirements. The Centre will also enhance public health education efforts on choking prevention.