According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the food most commonly associated with choking deaths among children in the United States are hot dogs. In fact, pediatricians across the U.S. are going as far as calling for a redesigned hot dog. The shape and texture of this popular American food seem to be the problem, making the hot dog hard to remove once lodged in the throat. At the very least, pediatricians and other advocates would like to see labels on hot dog packaging warning the public that the food poses a choking risk. It is estimated that more than 100 U.S. children under the age of 14 die each year from choking, with thousands more being treated in emergency rooms. Experts can only estimate, though, as it is believed that high numbers of choking-related deaths go unreported each year. Because of this, the Academy would like to see a federal mandate put into effect similar to laws governing the use of warning labels on small toys and toy parts that present a choking hazard. Until food makers voluntarily participate in the cause or participate out of requirement, it is very important to at least make parents aware of the dangers of choking associated with hot dogs.
Wow, it’s a wonder there are any healthy adults alive today, with all the deadly and debilitating hotdogs, strollers, toys, poisons, pollutants, medicines, vaccines, vehicles, food commercials, predatory lenders and failing schools.
If people are not protected from all these things by the government and mandated warning labels, how in the world will they be protected? By themselves? By common sense, knowledge, caustion, awareness and good parenting?
No way, we’d all be dead now if that was all we had to rely on.
Seems like too many groups of people have too much time on their hands. That Americans seem to have NO common sense in much of their lives there is coming a time when they will try to figure a way to put a lable on air.
Living is hazardous to our health. People need to put their “big boy and girl panties” on and grow up.
Just my stupid opinion.
How many choking deaths are attributable to hot dogs per year? The article mixes toys with the assertion that hot dogs are dangerous.
This is one of the most assinine thing I’ve ever seen. Hot dogs don’t need to be redesigned. Hot dogs/sausages/wursts have been around for who knows how long. Parents need to impress on their children why they should take small bites, chew thoroughly, and never run while eating. We can’t make the world fully safe. Incidents will happen. I can’t imagine what a redesign would cost a manufacturer or the industry if legislation were passed making them do this.
A WARNING LABEL FOR HOT DOGS? SERIOUSLY? If parents are so stupid that they cannot figure out on their own that a bite from a hot dog is a choking hazard, then their children likely will be equally impaired. I think Darwin put it best…
100 U.S. children under the age of 14 die each year. The questions are; 1. How many children die from choking on foods in general, not just hot dogs; and 2, what is the perrcentage rate of feedings verse choking?
dont eat that many hot dogs.
If we need a Federal Mandate to tell us that a hot dog could be a choking hazard, is like having a Federal Mandate that putting on underwear backwards could lead to chafing.
The single biggest deterrent for kids wolfing down hot-dogs without adequately chewing is called parental supervision.
We don’t need another government label.
it’s called ‘chewing’ kids. look into it
Hey! he is my Hero
Americans eat 20 billion hot dogs per year. Of that 20 billion, 117 cause choking. What other problem to we worry about that has only a 117 in 20 billion chance of occurring? Feed your kid a slice of bologna instead of a hot dog. They are equally unhealthy but the bologna has safer shape.