Despite ban and recalls, Asian jelly candy killing kids
 |
|
||||||||||
WASHINGTON — Children still choke to death from once-popular Asian-made jelly candies despite repeated recalls, a ban on imports and the decision by major grocery chains to pull the dangerous sweets off the shelves.
Six U.S. children have died from the jelly candy, including one in Washington state last year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced last week. The most recent death was a 2-year-old in New Jersey around New Year's Day.
FDA officials are frustrated that myriad small companies persist in selling the candies until overworked inspectors track them down. In addition, all parents haven't gotten the message not to let their children have the hazardous sweets.
The brightly colored gel candies come in small plastic cups, often with a piece of fruit inside. The fruit doesn't readily dissolve in the mouth, and the gel is so sticky that rescue workers have reported being unable to dislodge it from the throats of choking children.
The candies are sold under dozens of brand names, such as Jelly Yum and Fruit Poppers.
They also are known as konjac, konnyaku, yam flour or glucomannan.