Eg. product name, manufacturer, dealer, ...

MENU Close

• Entrepreneurs
• Business information
• Certification
• CAFIA laboratories
• CAFIA opinions
• More information
• Consumers
• How to know the food market
• Results of CAFIA inspections
• Consumer rights
• List of risky sites
• Hoaxes
• Other visitors
• Press Releases
• Internships at CAFIA
• Public contracts

The CAFIA inspectors performed flying random inspections in the retail trade network. Based on their results, it is highly probable that no gumdrops sold in the Czech shops contain the additive identified as E 425 (konjac).

This substance, also known as "conjac, konjac gum, yam flour or glucomannan etc.", is especially used in Asian countries as a thickening agent in the production of some foodstuffs. It can also be added into gumdrops, which may have caused suffocation of a few children in Australia, United States and Great Britain. The individual drops of various shapes are produced at the size of individually packed small cups filled with coffee creamer. The contained konjac is difficult to melt in mouth as opposed to jelly, and the shape and size of mini-cups may easily slip down to the throat, blocking it.

The Australian, American, Canadian, Japanese and some European food control authorities have already banned selling the mentioned drops. This year, on 27 March, also the European Commission issued a Decree No. 2002/247 EC, eliminating import and release in the EU market of the gumdrops containing the substance E 425.

This additive is currently on the list of permitted substances used in the production of foodstuffs in the Czech Republic. Although, based on the information provided to CAFIA, mostly other substances, such as pectin or jelly, are added as a thickening agent during the production of sweets that are not inducing imminent harm to consumers.

Notwithstanding, CAFIA points out to the potential harm that may be caused to small children and elderly persons when eating similar drops bought in shops abroad