Published: Monday, February 22, 2010
Doctors seek food labels on choke dangers
Thousands of U.S. children are treated each year — and 100 die — because of choking, and food is the leading cause.
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Associated Press Joan Stavros Adler of Warren, N.J., holds a photograph of her son Eric Stavros Adler, who choked to death on a piece of hot dog nine years ago at age 4. Nine years later, some food makers including Oscar Mayer have added warning labels about choking, but not nearly enough, says Adler.
CHICAGO — The American Academy of Pediatrics 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 such as coins and balloons. Of the 141 choking deaths in kids in 2006, 61 were food-related.
Doctors say high-risk foods, including hot dogs, raw carrots, grapes and apples — should be cut into pea-sized pieces for small children to reduce chances of choking. Some say other risky foods, including hard candies, popcorn, peanuts and marshmallows, shouldn’t be given to young children at all.
The academy said the food industry should avoid shapes and sizes that pose choking risks.
Federal law requires choking warning labels on certain toys including small balls, balloons and games with small parts. Unless food makers voluntarily put more warning labels on high-risk foods, there should be a similar mandate for food, the pediatrics academy said.
Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, is lead author of the new policy report from the pediatrics academy that seeks to make choking prevention a priority for government and food makers. The report was released today in the journal Pediatrics.
The pediatrics association also urges the Food and Drug Administration to work with other government agencies to establish a nationwide food-related choking reporting system; and to recall foods linked with choking.
Grocery Manufacturers Association spokesman Scott Openshaw declined to say whether food makers would consider warning labels or new designs, but said making parents aware of choking dangers is key to keeping kids safe.
Openshaw said the industry would continue working with the FDA and USDA “to ensure that our products are as safe as possible.”
At the FDA, spokeswoman Rita Chappelle said the agency will review the academy’s analysis and recommendations.
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 such as coins and balloons. Of the 141 choking deaths in kids in 2006, 61 were food-related.
Doctors say high-risk foods, including hot dogs, raw carrots, grapes and apples — should be cut into pea-sized pieces for small children to reduce chances of choking. Some say other risky foods, including hard candies, popcorn, peanuts and marshmallows, shouldn’t be given to young children at all.
The academy said the food industry should avoid shapes and sizes that pose choking risks.
Federal law requires choking warning labels on certain toys including small balls, balloons and games with small parts. Unless food makers voluntarily put more warning labels on high-risk foods, there should be a similar mandate for food, the pediatrics academy said.
Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, is lead author of the new policy report from the pediatrics academy that seeks to make choking prevention a priority for government and food makers. The report was released today in the journal Pediatrics.
The pediatrics association also urges the Food and Drug Administration to work with other government agencies to establish a nationwide food-related choking reporting system; and to recall foods linked with choking.
Grocery Manufacturers Association spokesman Scott Openshaw declined to say whether food makers would consider warning labels or new designs, but said making parents aware of choking dangers is key to keeping kids safe.
Openshaw said the industry would continue working with the FDA and USDA “to ensure that our products are as safe as possible.”
At the FDA, spokeswoman Rita Chappelle said the agency will review the academy’s analysis and recommendations.
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