Choking Concerns: Group Wants Hot Dog Design Changed

[catlover79]

http://www.fox8.com/news/wjw-news-ch...,3133435.story

CHICAGO (AP) — 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.

Surveillance systems lack detailed information about food choking incidents, which are thought to be underreported but remain a significant and under-appreciated problem, said Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

Smith is lead author of a new policy report from the pediatrics academy that seeks to make choking prevention a priority for government and food makers. The report was released Monday in the journal Pediatrics.

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.

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 says.

Adler, a Warren, N.J. attorney who pushed for more warning labels after her son died in 2001, says she hopes the academy's efforts will work. Several efforts to pass federal legislation for labels have failed in Congress.

The group 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.

The academy says the food industry should avoid shapes and sizes that pose choking risks.

Something as simple as making lollipops flat like a silver dollar instead of round like a pingpong ball can make a big difference, said Bruce Silverglade, legal affairs director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which also has lobbied for more attention to choking prevention.

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. She said the FDA also would continue consulting with the Consumer Product Safety Commission on assessing choking hazards associated with food and take action on a case-by-case basis.

Adler considered herself educated about children's safety. Her son had eaten hot dogs before without any problem.

Hot dogs are "almost as American as apple pie," she said. "You really don't know how horrible it can be."

[browneyes106]

ABC World News covered this story last night. I have heard of a lot of hot dog related choking deaths in the past few years.

[Marvo301]

Perhaps parents should teach their children to chew their food before swallowing it. Good parenting can help avoid many household accidents.

[catlover79]

Or just cut the stupid thing into teeny tiny pieces. That's what my sister does for her oldest child - and he's had plenty a hot dog in his 3 1/2 years!! Common sense, people!!

[Elvis Fonzie Dean]

Originally Posted by catlover79

Or just cut the stupid thing into teeny tiny pieces. That's what my sister does for her oldest child - and he's had plenty a hot dog in his 3 1/2 years!! Common sense, people!!

Yup.There's so many things in this world we can change.People need to take some responsibility.

Sad that her son died.

[Schmoopie]

Choking can happen with any food if the parents aren't watching their kids and don't teach them good eating habits. Changing the entire shape of a hot dog just so kids don't choke on it will upset a lot of people. Why change things for only one group when it's a food that millions like?

[comedyfreak]

Money talks and they'll lobby for change. I wish people would just take responsibility for their own doings.

[robyrob]

maybe they could affix some sort of "sieve" over the child's mouth that only lets items of a certain size pass through.

they could attach it onto his crash helmet.

[James]

I am opposed to "Big Government" dictating such changes. Talk about an assault on capitalism! Look at the mess in New York City of restaurants having to list calorie counts on the menus!

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Perhaps parents should teach their children to chew their food before swallowing it. Good parenting can help avoid many household accidents.

So you think she was being a bad parent or irresponsible? She is a
parent who lost her son and is filled with grief. I agree she may be
taking her crusade too far, but she lost a child and I don't think I
can say that about anyone of you.

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by Lee

So you think she was being a bad parent or irresponsible? She is a
parent who lost her son and is filled with grief. I agree she may be
taking her crusade too far, but she lost a child and I don't think I
can say that about anyone of you.

He didn't say anything about her being a bad parent or being irresponsible. In fact, I think he makes perfect sense. You made a comment about another poster putting words in your mouth in the thread about the man suing because of the flying hot dog and yet here you are doing the exact same thing with Marv.

[Zoneboy]

The makers of hot dogs can just as easily make a kid's size version without having to compromise what adults are already used to. Kid's size variations of many foods have been available for years and there's no reason why hot dogs can't be made that way as well.

[littlebelle]

I am very sorry for the loss of their son, that's very sad and my thoughts go out to them but COME ON PEOPLE SERIOUSLY !! ... what is this world coming to where we have safety proof everything even shapes of food. People are looking for people to blame and money to get. I think its absolutely RIDICULOUS that people have to sue everything under the sun. The world is not covered in foam ... you get hurt you learn your damn lesson !!! next time watch your kids and not blame the shape of the food.

[LuLu Rogers]

When I was little, my parents would cut up my hot dog for me and I would usually eat it with a fork which made me chew it a little more before I would swallow it, so I wouldn't get choked. You don't just hand a young child a hot dog and let them go to town. Common sense folks.

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by LuLu Rogers

When I was little, my parents would cut up my hot dog for me and I would usually eat it with a fork which made me chew it a little more before I would swallow it, so I wouldn't get choked. You don't just hand a young child a hot dog and let them go to town. Common sense folks.

If these people had common sense, they wouldn't be in this mess!!