Jelly snack dangerous if swallowed whole

The Ministry of Health is warning against buying slippery mini-jellies that are a choking risk and not easily dislodged if swallowed whole.

The "mini-cup" jelly sweets contained a food additive called konjac which does not dissolve easily like gelatine-based products, posing a risk to children and the elderly, says the Director-General of Health, Karen Poutasi.

The jellies, linked to a number of child deaths overseas, were usually packaged as individual mouth-sized servings and often contained a piece of preserved fruit.

The slippery jelly slid to the back of the mouth, making it hard to control, and could easily be accidentally swallowed whole, Dr Poutasi said.

The Heimlich manoeuvre, often used on choking victims, reportedly did not work if the jelly became lodged in the throat.

Konjac, made from a fibrous root found in Asia, was used as a thickener. It was a banned food additive in New Zealand and Australia.

"Products containing konjac cannot be lawfully sold in New Zealand and we are currently identifying and contacting importers. We will ask them to remove the product from sale," Dr Poutasi said.

Retailers were also being contacted.

The Institute of Environmental and Scientific Research was investigating whether similar products which did not contain konjac also posed a risk.

- NZPA