Hong Kong Sales Confirmed for Snack Linked to Sulfur Dioxide Issue
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago5 MIN
Summary
The popular Chinese snack konjac jelly strips (魔芋爽) has become embroiled in a food safety controversy after 162 metric tons of konjac powder imported from Indonesia were seized by Qingdao Customs for exceeding China's sulfur dioxide limits. The contaminated batch, supplied to Henan Weilong E-commerce Food Development Co., Ltd., was intercepted under the national food additive standard GB 2760-2024. The General Administration of Customs' Import and Export Food Safety Bureau disclosed that the sulfur dioxide levels surpassed acceptable limits under GB 2760-2024. A pediatrician has also raised concerns about the product's high sodium content, urging parents to monitor children's consumption.
Key Points
- Qingdao Customs intercepted 162 metric tons of konjac powder imported from Indonesia by Weilong, exceeding the sulfur dioxide limit under GB 2760-2024
- Sulfur dioxide is commonly used in konjac processing for color preservation and antiseptic purposes; excessive intake may cause throat irritation, coughing, wheezing, and digestive discomfort
- Long-term sulfur dioxide exposure may impair calcium absorption, harm liver and kidney function, and trigger allergic skin reactions
- A pediatrician known online as "Dr. Cang Lan Ge" (蒼藍鴿) tested an 18-gram packet and found 227 milligrams of sodium per package—consuming two packets reaches approximately 500mg, one-quarter of the WHO's 2000mg daily recommendation
- Taiwan's Health Promotion Administration found secondary school boys consume an average of 4800mg sodium daily, more than double the recommended amount, with ultra-processed snacks as the primary source
Why It Matters
The product remains widely available in Hong Kong supermarkets and convenience stores, making it a popular choice among northbound shoppers. Parents should be aware that the high sodium content poses health risks to children, and the repeated import violations by Weilong—including a 2020 rejection of 101.54 tons of dried konjac and a 2024 recall of over 43kg of related products in Japan due to a banned additive—suggest systemic quality control concerns at the supplier level .
The product remains widely available in Hong Kong supermarkets and convenience stores, making it a popular choice among northbound shoppers. Parents should be aware that the high sodium content poses health risks to children, and the repeated import violations by Weilong—including a 2020 rejection of 101.54 tons of dried konjac and a 2024 recall of over 43kg of related products in Japan due to a banned additive—suggest systemic quality control concerns at the supplier level .