FDA recalls gel candy due to choking hazard

WASHINGTON: The Food and Drug Administration announced last weekend the recall of 16,000 packages of mini-cup gel candies sold nationwide because they were deemed a choking hazard. The candy is sold under the names of Mother’s Pride and NATA, and the label describes the candy as a mini-fruit bite. It candy comes in small sealed plastic cups the size of individual coffee creamers that contain gelatin and some also have a chunk of fruit.

The candies contain the ingredient “konjac,” which is also know as conjac, konnyaku, yam flour or glucomannan. FDA said this type of candy poses a serious choking risk, particularly to infants, children and the elderly. Three children have died choking on this kind of jelly candy in the US, and similar choking deaths have been reported in other countries, the agency said. Houston-based Budget Promotions distributes the candy and co-operated with the FDA to voluntarily recall the product.

California wants safeguards on imported fruit
California’s agriculture secretary has asked the Bush administration to adopt stronger safeguards for imported citrus, especially from countries known as habitats for the Mediterranean fruit fly.

In his formal petition to the US Agriculture Department, California’s agricultural chief, William Lyons, cited recent Medfly discoveries in Spanish clementines as reason to demand that countries such as Spain, Morocco and South Africa come up with procedures to eliminate Medfly infestations before products are shipped to the US market.

The USDA on Wednesday banned imports of Spanish clementine citrus because of the discovery of Medfly larvae in shipments to Louisiana, Maryland and North Carolina. The USDA said it has banned the sale and distribution of the citrus products in 17 states where the pest can survive.

The medfly, which lays eggs that grow into maggots inside fruits and vegetables, is considered one of the most destructive agriculture pests in the world. “It’s imperative that the USDA take additional steps to protect American crops from infestation. We have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to control the Medfly threat in California,” Mr Lyons said.

“The USDA has a responsibility to act on our petition and to implement it before (citrus) shipments resume,” he added. The United States has no established Medfly populations. USDA has said it will be vigilant to prevent foreign introduction of the pest.

— Reuters