Origin
To produce the food additive E 425 from the root of the devil's tongue plant, the root tubers must be crushed, dried and finally ground. To obtain the final product - so-called konjac gum - the tuber flour is soaked with water, mixed with lime milk and filtered, and precipitated with alcohol.
Usage
In the European Union, E 425 is generally permitted for all foods, but its use includes a maximum quantity restriction of 10 g per kg body weight. E 425 can be found primarily in Asian food products, such as glass noodles. For the jelly desserts popular in Asia, the jelly cups, there is no longer approval for the additive E 425; therefore, these sweets cannot be imported into the EU anymore.
Risks
The jelly cups were banned after some children threatened to choke because they stuck in the throat. The gelation process with the help of E 425 is so effective that the substance absorbs any liquid and thus hinders swallowing.