Choking warning urged for food labels

[luvsJack]

So your ds choked on 3 seperate occasions and that wasn't a warning enough for you, but you think a label will make a difference

Maybe she thought it was something like the child was playing or the way he was eating them or something besides it actually being the fault of the hot dog. That is why education is so important BEFORE the child is given a hot dog. Like she said, by the grace of God, her child is still here, the first time could have been too late to learn the lesson

 

[Topper]

The obvious solution is to classify hot dogs in the same category as cigarettes and alcohol. You must be 21 or older to purchase, and if you give said tube steaks to a minor, you can wind up in jail.

 

[happygirl]

Bye Bye Common Sense

 

[luvmy3]

Maybe she thought it was something like the child was playing or the way he was eating them or something besides it actually being the fault of the hot dog. That is why education is so important BEFORE the child is given a hot dog. Like she said, by the grace of God, her child is still here, the first time could have been too late to learn the lesson

Yeah sorry I don't buy that. Seeing your child choke, not once, but 2 more times wasn't warning enough but somehow a label would make a parent say "Oh my goodness there is a warning label on this, maybe I should cut it up in tiny pieces, or not allow them at all because I wouldn't want my child to choke". Nope, this poster witnessed her child actually choking, and didn't get it, and witnessed it again and didn't get it and then finally a third time did. And yes you are right, thank God he is still here because if he something happened after that first time, who's fault would that be?
(I'm sorry pp, I don't mean to pick on you, but your post just shows why labels wouldnt work and why it all comes down to parents knowing the risk and what to do about it (common sense). YOu knew the risk after the first time and your child managed to choke 2 more. I've known the risks and none of my 3 children have ever choked A label won't help parents like that)

 

[luvsJack]

Seriously if you don't know that a hotdog is a choking hazard for little kids then perhaps you should really rethink becoming a parent! You might as well give your toddler marbles to play with while eating a hot dog if you can't figure out a choking hazard!!!

But, as has been said repeatedly; children have been given hot dogs to eat as long as there have been hot dogs. When something has been done for so long, its easy to assume its safe. (how many here have had to reteach their parents things about the safety of their kids?)

What is one item that is on so many "children's menus"? hot dogs! Do the restaurants cut them in strips? No. Now, I would agree that it would not be smart to base your child raising choices on a restaurant but how many people may think the hot dog is safe because the local "burger barn" gives them to kids?

Marbles, coins, hard candy and the like are pretty easy for most people to figure out they are hazards. I don't know if its the size and not realizing the size of a child's airway, but for whatever reason; there really are parents (and well educated, professional people) that do not realize this hazard. I know because I have educated a few of them on the matter.

 

[luvsJack]

Yeah sorry I don't buy that. Seeing your child choke, not once, but 2 more times wasn't warning enough but somehow a label would make a parent say "Oh my goodness there is a warning label on this, maybe I should cut it up in tiny pieces, or not allow them at all because I wouldn't want my child to choke". Nope, this poster witnessed her child actually choking, and didn't get it, and witnessed it again and didn't get it and then finally a third time did. And yes you are right, thank God he is still here because if he something happened after that first time, who's fault would that be?
(I'm sorry pp, I don't mean to pick on you, but your post just shows why labels wouldnt work and why it all comes down to parents knowing the risk. YOu knew the risk after the first time and your child managed to choke 2 more. I've known the risks and none of my 3 children have ever choked A label won't help parents like that)

You are lucky. Especially since it keeps being said that everything is a choking hazard. If you every witness it, I promise you it won't be something you will forget.

And this example is why I said that maybe labels are not the answer, but there does need to be constant education on choking. On what are the hazards ( and an explanation as to why they are hazards, sometimes understanding the why makes people retain information better), and on what to do about it.

 

[legalsea]

The warning labels are to help shield the hot dog company from liability, in addition to warning parents about the possible hazard.

 

[luvmy3]

You are lucky. Especially since it keeps being said that everything is a choking hazard. If you every witness it, I promise you it won't be something you will forget.

And this example is why I said that maybe labels are not the answer, but there does need to be constant education on choking. On what are the hazards ( and an explanation as to why they are hazards, sometimes understanding the why makes people retain information better), and on what to do about it.

I agree with this. If the pediatricians are the ones who are so concerned with getting the warning out there, maybe they should make it a priority to educate their patients. Give every parent a handbook before they leave the hospital. Maybe they could start a campaign highlighting the dangers of choking, air a commercial during A Baby Story (is that show still on) etc. I don't know if those are the answers but there are more effective ways than adding a label to a package that nobody is going to notice, and if they do, they will ignore it anyway.

 

[luvmy3]

The warning labels are to help shield the hot dog company from liability, in addition to warning parents about the possible hazard.

Sure, when they are put on voluntarily.

 

[PeterPan09]

I can't believe this is still going on!

How about a PSA during American Idol? They might actually get people to pay attention if Ryan Seacrest says it. Or maybe we can have Tiger Woods announce it when he makes his next world stopping statement.

If the life of your child isn't important enough to you for you to educate yourself at all about potential dangers to said child, then you really need to rethink your priorities.

 

[wvjules]

I can't believe this is still going on!

How about a PSA during American Idol? They might actually get people to pay attention if Ryan Seacrest says it. Or maybe we can have Tiger Woods announce it when he makes his next world stopping statement.

If the life of your child isn't important enough to you for you to educate yourself at all about potential dangers to said child, then you really need to rethink your priorities.

I think Tiger woods has done enough talking about his hotdog.

 

[PeterPan09]

I think Tiger woods has done enough talking about his hotdog.

If he can save one person.....

 

[luvmy3]

If he can save one person.....

 

[dejr_8]

If he can save one person.....

himself

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

I personally think that we, as a society, have gone overboard with warning labels. Example? I bought a gallon of milk the other day. Printed on the label was the following text: "Allergy Warning: This product contains milk". I bought a jar of peanuts, that carried this little gem on it's label: "This product was processed on machinery that processes nuts, in a facility where nuts are stored"

In both cases, my thought was "Well, duh, of course". I hope that anyone with a dairy allergy or a peanut allergy wouldn't need the warning on the label to tell them to stay away from those products. But, obviously, the warning labels are there, which means someone had to have sued the company over the lack of a label.

We do not need more warning labels. We need tort reform, and we need judges that aren't afraid to throw these cases out. More warning labels aren't going to do anything, society is already oversaturated with them, and the labels have reached the point where they're just being ignored.

MTE!! I bought a bag of PEANUT M&M's and it had a warning label about peanuts!!

But, as has been said repeatedly; children have been given hot dogs to eat as long as there have been hot dogs. When something has been done for so long, its easy to assume its safe. (how many here have had to reteach their parents things about the safety of their kids?)

What is one item that is on so many "children's menus"? hot dogs! Do the restaurants cut them in strips? No. Now, I would agree that it would not be smart to base your child raising choices on a restaurant but how many people may think the hot dog is safe because the local "burger barn" gives them to kids?

Marbles, coins, hard candy and the like are pretty easy for most people to figure out they are hazards. I don't know if its the size and not realizing the size of a child's airway, but for whatever reason; there really are parents (and well educated, professional people) that do not realize this hazard. I know because I have educated a few of them on the matter.

No the restaurant doesn't cut it, but the parents should. I know I did.

 

[luvsJack]

MTE!! I bought a bag of PEANUT M&M's and it had a warning label about peanuts!!


No the restaurant doesn't cut it, but the parents should. I know I did.

Sure they should and I always did too. But my point was not that the resteraunt should cut them, but that to some parents, because the hot dogs are not cut they would appear to be safe as they are.

 

[wvjules]

Sure they should and I always did too. But my point was not that the resteraunt should cut them, but that to some parents, because the hot dogs are not cut they would appear to be safe as they are.

Well using that logic might as well hand the kid a t-bone and call it a day.

 

[mkel34]

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.

There is no need for anymore posts in this thread. This post is the winner, couldn't agree more.

PS Don't run with scissors

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

 

[AndyLL]

I agree with this. If the pediatricians are the ones who are so concerned with getting the warning out there, maybe they should make it a priority to educate their patients. Give every parent a handbook before they leave the hospital. Maybe they could start a campaign highlighting the dangers of choking, air a commercial during A Baby Story (is that show still on) etc. I don't know if those are the answers but there are more effective ways than adding a label to a package that nobody is going to notice, and if they do, they will ignore it anyway.

Uhhh... isn't what they are trying to do is provide another method to educate parents?

I love all the common sense here that thinks adding a label is gonna increase thier costs?