Konjac is a component of the once-popular among children mini-cup gel candies. It is also known as glucomannan, konjac, yam flour, or konnyaku. These mouth-sized, individually packaged gel sweets often come in a variety of flavors.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) both view this candy as an unacceptable choking danger. The elderly, young children, and infants should exercise special caution.
Those who consume Konjac-made items put themselves at risk of choking. Numerous local authorities have reported child-choking deaths. These fatalities happened after the kids ate Konjac-containing gel candies. There have also been reports of deaths in other nations.
The most dangerous choking hazard in the world is gel candies, which are also referred to as Fruit Poppers, Jelly Yum, Jelly Mini Cups, and Mini Fruity Gels.
These Konjac-based chocolates are typically packaged in coffee-creamer-sized containers. Sadly, they can fully obstruct the larynx at this size and form, acting like a cork between the vocal cords.
Devil’s tongue, konjaku, voodoo lily, snake palm, and fibrous elephant yam are additional names for konjac.
In several nations throughout the Pacific Rim, these candies were marketed as “health foods.” They earned the moniker “the deadly mouthful” in Japan.
Bubble Tea pearls (or cubes), which can shoot up a straw and into the airway, are frequently made with konjac.
Concerning the eating of these gel candies, the FDA has issued cautions. The FDA is still working to educate people about the risks associated with these candies.
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Food Safety and Inspection discovered the potential choking danger during a regular inspection.
The recall notification states that little jelly cups with konjac powder have previously been linked to child choking deaths. FDA import alert 35-15 states that small konjac powder jelly cups are currently prohibited from entering the United States. The recalled jelly cups were sold in grocery stores across the country.
Consumers are advised to discard any merchandise they may have.
Many producers have stopped making the candies and recalled them. You should provide the local FDA office with specific information about the candies if you discover them in any retailer.
One of the ways that infants and young children explore the environment is by putting things in their mouths. Food, toys, and other small things that can easily get lodged in a child’s windpipe commonly cause choking.
You can protect your children and avoid choking by being aware of the risks.
Smooth, hard meals might obstruct the windpipe. Children under the age of four should not be given these:
These soft foods should be avoided, peeled if they have skin, or chopped into little pieces:
Give them only small amounts of gum and peanut butter. These might become caught in the throat and are sticky in the mouth.
Encourage kids to chew their food completely while sitting down to eat.
Teach children to swallow their food and then chew it before speaking or laughing.
Be extra cautious during gatherings where candy or nut bowls may be easy for children to access or may have fallen to the ground.
Allowing children to exercise, play sports, or ride in a car while chewing gum, candy, or lollipops is not advised.
Keep an eye on older kids who might not be aware that they shouldn’t feed specific meals to smaller ones.
Carefully read all food labels.
It’s a good idea to childproof your home if you’re having a child or already have one. From a child’s perspective, go on your hands and knees in each area in your house. Items that might be dangerous should be put away or locked.
To be prepared in an emergency, learn how to do age-appropriate Heimlich maneuvers and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Even with these safety measures in place, accidents can still happen and damage children. However, being organized will enable you to respond to emergencies with confidence and speed.
You can prevent your youngster from choking on objects in your home by following this advice:
Toys for younger and older siblings should be kept in separate containers. Teach younger siblings to keep their small toys out of reach. This could consist of Lego, doll attire, beads, auto components, etc.
Yes, failing to warn leads to choking hazard lawsuits. Product liability claims compel manufacturers of items to alert consumers to any potential choking dangers.
All goods must be deemed sufficiently safe for customers to use in accordance with their design. A manufacturer may be liable for injuries if they neglect to issue a warning.
To win a failure to warn action, the plaintiff must prove a number of different things. Holding a manufacturer, merchant, or distributor responsible for inadequate product warnings is possible.
A successful choking hazard claim requires the plaintiff to demonstrate:
In most cases, if a child uses a product or toy as intended and chokes on it or a piece of it, their parents may file a lawsuit on their behalf. If an adult ingests the product or a piece of it, the same rules apply.
If Konjac candies have caused you or a loved one harm, you may want to speak with a qualified class action lawyer specializing in defective product law.
If necessary, a lawyer can analyze your case, ascertain what compensation you could be entitled to, and represent you in court. It’s critical to remember that if your child chokes on a product, it’s possible that someone else may as well. Holding the company accountable for the flaw will benefit your child as well as other kids.
16 people have successfully posted their cases
