Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Childhood aspiration on food is a public health issue

Nina Shapiro, MD
Conditions
January 22, 2016
148 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

Recently, new dietary guidelines were released, recommending reducing sugar intake overall, and reducing meat intake in growing boys.  Last year, as we remain in the throes of a nationwide obesity epidemic, the FDA changed the nutritional labels we’ve become all-too-familiar with. The emphasis is now on calorie count of an “appropriate” serving size. So much for my pretending that the “appropriately served” pint of ice cream I just downed had 350 calories. What? That was per serving? From now on, we’ll be able to enjoy our 350 fat-filled calories in the microscopic “appropriate”  portion it was meant to be. And no way should we share those sugar-laden calories with our already tainted, meat-loving children.

I understand the importance of the health of our nation, but I fear that we are missing a big boat. Childhood aspiration (or choking) on food is a major public health issue. Anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 kids visit emergency rooms each year in the U.S. alone, after having suffered a food-choking accident. Hundreds die each year, either in the hospital or before they make it in the door. Most of these kids are under the age of 5, and most of their parents will have had no idea that their child had choked on a high-risk food. The vast majority are preventable, had we only known the risks in advance.  The number one cause of food choking deaths in school-aged children is hot dogs, which also happen to be a top food served to children in school cafeterias.

In stark contrast to the well established legislation that all toys and games intended for young children must have safety labeling, similar legislation for food products does not exist. The Food Choking Prevention Act was introduced and reintroduced multiple times to Congress. The 2002 rendition directed the FDA to establish an Office of Choking Hazard Evaluation, in efforts to oversee identification and labeling of potentially hazardous food products. This act was ultimately dismissed by Congress in 2002, 2003, and again in 2005. The most recent attempt was devised with a focus on promoting public education about prevention of food object aspiration. Unfortunately, the introduction of this bill was also dismissed by Congress.

Until we have support by our legislators, we will continue to do our best as physicians to educate the public about high-risk foods for young children. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that the following foods not be given to children under 5 years old:

  • hard candies or gum
  • raw vegetables in chunks
  • nuts and seeds
  • whole grapes
  • hot dogs
  • chunks of meat or cheese
  • popcorn
  • sticky candy
  • chunks of peanut butter

None of these foods have safety labels. Hot dogs have some suggestive wording, but it’s still not the warning label needed to steer parents and caregivers of young ones clear of potential choking risks. Even the healthy stuff, when served in an unsafe way, can be the unhealthiest of them all.

Nina Shapiro is a pediatric otolaryngologist.  She is the author of Take a Deep Breath: Clear the Air for the Health of Your Child, can be reached on her self-titled site, Dr. Nina Shapiro, and can be reached on Twitter @drninashapiro.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

A hypocrite in a coffee shop

January 22, 2016 Kevin 2
…
Next

The rise of workplace confrontation in medical practices

January 22, 2016 Kevin 9
…

Tagged as: Pediatrics

Post navigation

< Previous Post
A hypocrite in a coffee shop
Next Post >
The rise of workplace confrontation in medical practices

More by Nina Shapiro, MD

  • How do we treat the unvaccinated?  And how can they treat us?

    Nina Shapiro, MD
  • COVID vaccine battles are as strange as the disease

    Nina Shapiro, MD
  • Every time you congregate with someone from outside of your home, you are potentially responsible for deaths

    Nina Shapiro, MD

Related Posts

  • Low income is a neglected public health issue

    Vania Silva
  • Anti-blackness is a public health issue

    Kimberly Grocher, LCSW, Divya K. Chhabra, MD, Yolanda Kirkham, MD, Naila Russell, DNP, Mary Pan Wierusz, MD, Susan Dix Lyons, Adham Sameer A. Bardeesi, MD, and Gillian S. Gould, PhD
  • It’s time to study firearm morbidity and mortality as we do any other public health issue

    Charles Nozicka, DO
  • Why working at polling locations is good public health

    Rob Palmer, Isaac Freedman, and Josh Hyman
  • Why is health inequity an issue, and why do we have to highlight the issue?

    Sarah Murad
  • Our public health efforts depend on flexibility and trust

    John Connolly

More in Conditions

  • Overcoming the lies of depression: Senator John Fetterman’s struggle with mental health

    Harvey Max Chochinov, MD, PhD
  • Proposed USPSTF guideline update: Advocating for earlier breast cancer screening at age 40

    Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
  • The rising threat of lung cancer in Asian American female nonsmokers

    Alice S. Y. Lee, MD
  • Urgent innovation needed to address growing mental health crisis among children and families

    Monika Roots, MD
  • The importance of listening in health care: a mother’s journey advocating for children with chronic Lyme disease

    Cheryl Lazarus
  • The unjust reality of racial disparities in pediatric kidney transplants

    Lien Morcate
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • We need a new Hippocratic Oath that puts patient autonomy first

      Jeffrey A. Singer, MD | Physician
    • A physician’s typical day, as envisioned by a non-clinician health care MBA: a satire

      Jennifer Lycette, MD | Physician
    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • Decoding name displays in health care: Privacy, identification, and compliance unveiled

      Deepak Gupta, MD | Physician
    • Unlocking resilience: a powerful journey from trauma to transformation [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • An inspiring tribute to an exceptional radiologist who made a lasting impact

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Unlocking resilience: a powerful journey from trauma to transformation [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Overcoming the lies of depression: Senator John Fetterman’s struggle with mental health

      Harvey Max Chochinov, MD, PhD | Conditions
    • Master the ABIM Certification exam with effective strategies: insider tips for success

      Farzana Hoque, MD | Education
    • A mentor’s legacy in medicine, leadership, and embracing evidence-based care

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Breaking free from restrictive covenants to combat burnout

      Raya E. Kheirbek, MD | Physician
    • Fixing the system and prioritizing patient care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 2 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • New Data in NSCLC Bolster Support for Perioperative Immunotherapy
  • Breathing Support Type Matters for Preventing Extubation Failure in the PICU
  • Second-Line Axi-Cel Bests Standard in Relapsed/Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphoma
  • New Agents for Relapsed/Refractory Myeloma Impress in Early-Stage Clinical Trials
  • Kratom Linked to Outsized Proarrhythmic Risks

Meeting Coverage

  • New Data in NSCLC Bolster Support for Perioperative Immunotherapy
  • Second-Line Axi-Cel Bests Standard in Relapsed/Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphoma
  • New Agents for Relapsed/Refractory Myeloma Impress in Early-Stage Clinical Trials
  • CAR-T Tops Standard Care in Heavily Pretreated Lenalidomide-Refractory Myeloma
  • T-DXd Proves Mettle in Multiple Solid Tumors
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • We need a new Hippocratic Oath that puts patient autonomy first

      Jeffrey A. Singer, MD | Physician
    • A physician’s typical day, as envisioned by a non-clinician health care MBA: a satire

      Jennifer Lycette, MD | Physician
    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • Decoding name displays in health care: Privacy, identification, and compliance unveiled

      Deepak Gupta, MD | Physician
    • Unlocking resilience: a powerful journey from trauma to transformation [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • An inspiring tribute to an exceptional radiologist who made a lasting impact

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Unlocking resilience: a powerful journey from trauma to transformation [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Overcoming the lies of depression: Senator John Fetterman’s struggle with mental health

      Harvey Max Chochinov, MD, PhD | Conditions
    • Master the ABIM Certification exam with effective strategies: insider tips for success

      Farzana Hoque, MD | Education
    • A mentor’s legacy in medicine, leadership, and embracing evidence-based care

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Breaking free from restrictive covenants to combat burnout

      Raya E. Kheirbek, MD | Physician
    • Fixing the system and prioritizing patient care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Childhood aspiration on food is a public health issue
2 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...