RIBBLE Valley Borough Council has today echoed a warning from the Food Standards Agency for children to avoid certain jelly-based sweets because of the risk of choking.

The mini cup fruit jelly products, which contain a product called Konjac, have been linked to a number of death from choking around the world.

The sweets have a number of different brand names including ABC Mini Fruity Bites, Fuji Coconut flavour jelly, Healthy Konnyaku jelly, JN Jin Knojac Mini Fruit Gels, New Century's Choice, Rolin Mango Jelly Cup and Troofy Gels.

The jellies are contained in cups about the size of individual mini pots of milk or coffee creamer.

They are dome-shaped with a diameter of about 3cm and have a rounded edge and a sealed foil lid.

The sweets are sold in various package sizes or individually.

Some packets may be labelled with precautionary advice.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the council said: "Children tend to suck out and effectively 'inhale' the sweet, which contains a soft slippery type jelly and usually containing a hard fruit-flavoured gum at the centre.

"This increases the risk of choking. The jellies contain a particular ingredient, konjac, which does not dissolve easily and could stay stuck in the throat."

For more information visit the Food Standards Agency at www.food.gov.uk