Choking warning urged for food labels

[dejr_8]

Give me a break! No matter how hard you try, you can't protect everyone from every possible bad event.

OK let's break this down. There were only 61 choking deaths from food in 2006. Let for sake of argument say 50% were hotdogs - that is 30.

Americans eat 20 BILLION hot dogs a year (http://fastfood.freedomblogging.com...cts-which-state-eats-the-most-hot-dogs/25807/)

So the odds of choking on a hotdog are about 1 in 666,666,666.

For comparison, the odds of winning the top prize in power ball are 1 in 195,249,054.

End of Rant...
****************************************************

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35511567/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/
Choking warning urged for food labels
Pediatricians seek to protect kids from high-risk items

CHICAGO - When 4-year-old Eric Stavros Adler choked to death on a piece of hot dog, his anguished mother never dreamed that the popular kids' food could be so dangerous.

Some food makers including Oscar Mayer have warning labels about choking, but not nearly enough, says Joan Stavros Adler, Eric's mom.

The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees. The nation's largest pediatricians group is calling for sweeping changes in the way food is designed and labeled to minimize children's chances for choking.

Choking kills more than 100 U.S. children 14 years or younger each year and thousands more — 15,000 in 2001 — are treated in emergency rooms. Food, including candy and gum, is among the leading culprits, along with items like coins and balloons. Of the 141 choking deaths in kids in 2006, 61 were food-related.
(more at the link)

 

[krcit]

If it raises awareness that these foods are dangerous then what's the harm and it could save a life. I actually shudder when I see a little 2 year old holding a whole hotdog and eating it b/c I know of a child who choked to death on a hotdog(at WDW actually) Also when I see a child holding a latex balloon near their mouths. Many people don't realize the danger of that, if it pops and the child inhales a piece of the balloon, it can act like a suction over the throat. I know that many things can be dangerous and we can't be protected from all of them but sometimes knowledge is power.

 

[MickeySP]

Oh and let's not forget grapes, they were on the list.

So does God need to put a label on them or can I sue him if my child chokes?

This is taking idiocy into stupidity, use a knife and cut them into small pieces. But use a knife that has a warning label so you don't cut your hand when you grab the wrong end.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

there is a reason for this! it is the casin that the hot dog is in! just like sausage or like mentioned above grapes! I think it is about time! a lot needs to be done with food labels!

 

[allison443]

I had my oldest child in the 80s and even then hot dogs were on the list of foods not to give kids because of the choking risk.
Along with grapes that another poster mentioned. That has been pretty common knowledge for years.

However when I see something like this, I kind of give the parents a pass because I figure it is their way of dealing with the horrible tragedy of losing a child and trying to give that tragedy some kind of meaning and to have some good come out of it. Like another poster said, it can raise awareness of these things, and there are people who apparently don't realize the dangers.

Just the other day I was reading a thread about car seats and learned they now have expiration dates! That was not the case when my kids were little and using car seats. So I guess there are still improvements being made in safety issues in many areas.

 

[SaraJayne]

If you don't know hot dogs are a choking risk, you shouldn't have children.

Some things are just common sense ~ which obviously isn't so common anymore.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Maybe it's because I have that little thing called common sense, I don't need a darned label to tell me what to do and how to do it. I know that common sense isn't common, but c'mon, not EVERYTHING needs a label. I'm sick of labels and warnings and stickers, oh my!

Seriously though, just because you CAN choke doesn't mean you will.

On that note, I'm going to buy a Power Ball ticket.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

If you don't know hot dogs are a choking risk, you shouldn't have children.

Some things are just common sense ~ which obviously isn't so common anymore.

 

[bgohre]

Give me a break! No matter how hard you try, you can't protect everyone from every possible bad event.

OK let's break this down. There were only 61 choking deaths from food in 2006. Let for sake of argument say 50% were hotdogs - that is 30.

Americans eat 20 BILLION hot dogs a year (http://fastfood.freedomblogging.com...cts-which-state-eats-the-most-hot-dogs/25807/)

So the odds of choking on a hotdog are about 1 in 666,666,666.

For comparison, the odds of winning the top prize in power ball are 1 in 195,249,054.

End of Rant...
****************************************************

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35511567/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/
Choking warning urged for food labels
Pediatricians seek to protect kids from high-risk items

CHICAGO - When 4-year-old Eric Stavros Adler choked to death on a piece of hot dog, his anguished mother never dreamed that the popular kids' food could be so dangerous.

Some food makers including Oscar Mayer have warning labels about choking, but not nearly enough, says Joan Stavros Adler, Eric's mom.

The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees. The nation's largest pediatricians group is calling for sweeping changes in the way food is designed and labeled to minimize children's chances for choking.

Choking kills more than 100 U.S. children 14 years or younger each year and thousands more — 15,000 in 2001 — are treated in emergency rooms. Food, including candy and gum, is among the leading culprits, along with items like coins and balloons. Of the 141 choking deaths in kids in 2006, 61 were food-related.
(more at the link)

You know what would really suck? Realizing that you just won the power ball and getting so excited you choke to death on a hot dog.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

If you don't know hot dogs are a choking risk, you shouldn't have children.

Some things are just common sense ~ which obviously isn't so common anymore.

I cringe everytime I see a toddler eating a hotdog. I never fed my kids hotdogs, grapes,hard candy, bubble gum until they were at least 5. Besides they have zero nutritional value and kids really should not be eating hotdogs anyway. My kids still don't eat hot dogs but they eat the rest of the stuff on my list.

 

[monkeybug]

Oh and let's not forget grapes, they were on the list.

So does God need to put a label on them or can I sue him if my child chokes?

This is taking idiocy into stupidity, use a knife and cut them into small pieces. But use a knife that has a warning label so you don't cut your hand when you grab the wrong end.

I worked with a woman who lost her 3 year old when a grape became lodged in his throat. They knew how to properly do the Heimlich (dad had just taken a cpr course for work) but because of the shape it would not budge. It was horrible.
I have to admit it made me paranoid of choking with my kids, I still cut my 4 year olds hot dogs in half, and quarter his grapes. I figure why not? It tastes the same, and saves me some worry.
I actually think the labels are good ideas. Some parents, especially those who may not have access to good medical care (good pediatricians) may not be aware of the risk.
I remember a number of years ago there was a gelatin type candy from Japan that kids were choking on. It was the shape and texture that caused it to become lodged in their throat, and paramedics were unable to dislodge it (much like a hotdog) Those candies were banned. Obviously I don't think hot dogs or grapes should be banned, but I think a warning label for parents is a good idea.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

You know what would really suck? Realizing that you just won the power ball and getting so excited you choke to death on a hot dog.

HA!!!! I laughed really loudly at that one!

 

[dislaney]

If you don't know hot dogs are a choking risk, you shouldn't have children.

Some things are just common sense ~ which obviously isn't so common anymore.

Really.

 

[DisneyJules]

If you don't know hot dogs are a choking risk, you shouldn't have children.

Some things are just common sense ~ which obviously isn't so common anymore.

I don't remember my mom doing this growing up and we were fine but my stepmother has always cut the hot dogs in half for my younger half siblings. I think it's pretty common knowledge these days.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I cringe everytime I see a toddler eating a hotdog. I never fed my kids hotdogs, grapes,hard candy, bubble gum until they were at least 5.

We did, but we cut them into tiny pieces...

 

[wdwfan16]

How many people choke each year from eating the food labels?

 

[nmmom95]

You know what would really suck? Realizing that you just won the power ball and getting so excited you choke to death on a hot dog.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

If you don't know hot dogs are a choking risk, you shouldn't have children.

Some things are just common sense ~ which obviously isn't so common anymore.

Shoot! You beat me to it!

You know what would really suck? Realizing that you just won the power ball and getting so excited you choke to death on a hot dog.

This is one of those things that you feel bad about when you laugh at it.

I do agree about the common sense. At lot of people just don't have it. My favorite warning label comes on strollers. It's something like "Do not fold stroller while child is in it". Wow.

 

[nmmom95]

Actually, that is very sad and I'm sorry for their tragic loss. That being said, why is it that no one wants to take responsibility for their actions? Coffee is hot, some foods are not safe to give kids, never leave a child unattended in the tub or anywhere near water. Barring recalled items, it's a parents job to keep a child out of danger.

 

[krcit]

Actually, that is very sad and I'm sorry for their tragic loss. That being said, why is it that no one wants to take responsibility for their actions? Coffee is hot, some foods are not safe to give kids, never leave a child unattended in the tub or anywhere near water. Barring recalled items, it's a parents job to keep a child out of danger.

I don't see it as not taking responsibility, I see it as a mom who didn't realize the risk and wants to spread the word so that this doesn't happen to another child. I know it seems like common sense that kids can choke on hotdogs but apparently some people lack common sense or just never thought about it. Just the fact that this story is in the news may open someone's eyes who never thought twice about choking hazards