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July 2003

SWEETS DANGER - Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is warning residents - and especially children - that they should not eat mini cup jelly sweets containing Konjac, after these illegal products were found on sale in Wales. 

    

Jelly sweets containing the additive Konjac, E425, were banned across Europe last year following the deaths of around 18 children worldwide.  A product named Jellyace Lychee Flavor Konjac has now been found in shops in England and Wales while a sweet named Jellyace Buko Pandan, labelled as containing Konjac was recently found in a shop in Oswestry. 

“These sweets pose a very serious risk to children that all parents should be aware of – particularly because they have been discovered in such close proximity to Rhondda Cynon Taf, making them a very real danger, said Lester Lewis, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Divisional Director for Public Health and Protection. 

“These type of sweets containing the additive Konjac do not dissolve easily and can result in the sweets becoming stuck in the child’s throat. 

“There was a European ban on the use of Konjac in jelly confectionery last year but we know that these sweets have recently been distributed to parts of South Wales.” 

If you have, or would like, further information on the sweets or their sale in Rhondda Cynon Taf please contact the Council’s Food Programme Team on 01443 442100.

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Notes to Editors: 

The following products are specifically affected: 

·        Sugarland brand Jellyace Lychee Flavor Konjac mini-cup jelly product sold in a 192g package containing 12 units.

·        Sugarland brand Jellyace Buko Pandan mini-cup jelly product sold in a192g package containing 12 units.

 It should be noted that there are Jellyace Buko Pandan products on sale that do not contain Konjac. The main distinction between the two products are:- 

1. In the ingredients list for the non-Konjac product 'locust bean gum' is listed as an ingredient and

2. Below the ingredients list for the non-Konjac product the symbol 'halal' appears on the package.

 The individual jellies are about the size of a coffee creamer with a rounded edge.

 Examples of the Sugarland brand Jellyace Lychee Flavor Konjac packaging are available on the FSA (www.food.gov.uk) website.
  • CONTAMINATED VODKA - Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Food and Health and Safety Team are warning of the possible methanol contamination of two brands of vodka. Following a recent discovery in London that two brands of vodka, namely the S. Petersbourg and St. Petersburg brands, were contaminated with methanol, it is possible that they may now be available in other parts of the country. 

  • Symptoms of Methanol poisoning include: Severe abdominal pain - Drowsiness - Dizziness - Blurred vision leading to blindness - Coma with breathing difficulties 

Identification of the products:

1 - S.Petersbourg vodka markings: 

  • White front label bearing the following information – 

  • S.Petersbourg (in black lettering) Vodka (in red lettering), 70cl, e, 37.5%Vol.

  • The label also bears a gold crown with cross swords and two red lions at the top, and a gold image of buildings at the bottom.  

Also, 

  • White back label bearing the following information:

  • S.Petersbourg (in black lettering) Vodka (in red lettering), 70cl, e, 37.5%Vol.

  • The label also bears a gold crown with cross swords and two red lions at the top and a gold image of buildings at the bottom.

2 - St. Petersburg Vodka markings:

  • The bottles found so far have been 1litre bottles. 

  • The labeling on these bottles is identical to the St. Petersburg brand, with the exception that they have 1 LTR as the volume as opposed to 70cl, and have different names on the label.

 

  • Any person who comes across one of these brands is advised to immediately contact the Food and Health and Safety Team on 01443 442100. 
  • Further information is also available from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) website at www.food.gov.uk

 

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