Hong Kong could ban mini konjac-jelly cups from April 2026 over choking risk
The amendments will be tabled in the Legislative Council next Wednesday. If passed, it will see mini-cup jellies containing konjac with a height or width of 45mm (1.77 inches) or less banned starting April 1.
All other konjac-jelly products would also be required to come with a warning sign.
The proposed amendments to the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations were prompted by a coroner's suggestion last year that such products should be prohibited due to the risk of choking.
The recommendation followed the death of a seven-year-old girl in 2021, who was determined to have died from choking on confectionery jelly at school.
'Non cup-shaped konjac jellies are usually consumed through a small opening in the packaging, while larger or non pre-packaged konjac jelly is typically eaten with a teaspoon, posing a relatively lower choking risk,' said Dr Cheung Yung-yan, a consultant with the Centre for Food Safety.
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