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Yak's Corner is brought to you by the Michigan K.I.D.S. educational non-profit with support from The Skillman Foundation.

A call goes out for warnings on foods that cause choking

If you're like most kids, you probably are familiar with the labels on toys and games that warn about choking dangers.

But have you ever seen such labels on food packages?

If the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has its say, you soon will. In the March issue of "Pediatrics," the academy's scientific journal, the group recommends

that warning labels be put on foods that pose high choking risks, such as hot dogs.

Choking is the leading cause of injury and death among U.S. children, especially those under age 4. The major culprits include food, toys and coins.

On average, one child in the United States dies every five days from choking on food.

U.S. federal law requires choking warnings on games with small parts, balloons and other toys that have been found to be dangerous. But it's up to food makers whether such labels appear on foods, even foods that have been shown to have a high risk for choking.

"We have laws and regulations in this country that require warning labels to be placed on toys that pose choking hazards, and we have systems that monitor and recall consumer products that pose a risk," said Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital. "However, there are no such regulations on high risk foods -- and children are much more likely to put food in their mouths than a toy."

The hazards

According to the AAP, which represents children's doctors, choking on food sends more than 100,000 children under age 14 to hospital emergency rooms each year.

Foods like candy, gum and popcorn can easily lodge in a child's throat. Many nutritious foods are risky, too. Grapes, nuts, raw carrots and apples can be dangerous for young children.

But the hot dog may be the Number One harmful food.

"If you were to design the perfect plug for a child's airway, you couldn't do much better than a hot dog," said Smith. "It will wedge itself in tightly and completely block the airway, causing the child to die within minutes because of lack of oxygen."

The recommendations

Along with warning labels for foods that pose a high risk for choking, the AAP also wants food manufacturers to redesign foods like hot dogs to reduce the possibilities for choking.

Bruce Silverglade, legal affairs director for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said in an Associated Press interview that making lollipops flat rather than round could make a big difference, for example.

The AAP also recommends that parents and caregivers do

their part, by cutting hot dogs lengthwise, or cutting grapes in quarters.

The group also wants to create a nationwide reporting system to record food-related choking incidents and a recall

of food products that pose significant choking dangers.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has the authority to recall food products that it finds dangerous to consumers, plans to review the AAP recommendations.

Talk About the News

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that warning labels should be put on foods that could cause children to choke. As a class, talk about the responsibilities that food manufacturers, government groups, parents and other caregivers have to protect children from choking. If such labels appeared on hot dog packages and other food products, how likely would consumers be to pay attention? How could people be educated about the dangers?

Learning Standard: Engaging peers in constructive conversation about matters of public concern by clarifying issues, considering opposing views, applying democratic values, anticipating consequences and working toward making decisions.

Explore Your e-Edition

Hot dogs are one of America's favorite foods, but they are under fire because of their choking potential. Look through grocery store ads in your e-Edition, or read articles, to find three foods you eat on a regular basis. Make a list of reasons this food is good for you and/or reasons it poses risks or is harmful. With what healthy foods could you replace the harmful or risky foods you enjoy?

Learning Standards: Responding to a variety of texts by making connections to students' personal lives and the lives of others; acquiring information from multiple sources; comprehending what constitutes good health and nutrition.

The AAP wants warning labels put on certain foods, such as hot dogs, because of potential choking dangers. Look through today's e-Edition to find a product (food or non-food) that you think should come with a warning label. Using paper or a computer, create a warning label with the dangers you believe the product has.

Learning Standards: Reading and writing fluently, speaking confidently, listening and interacting appropriately,

viewing critically and representing creatively; acquiring information from multiple sources; organizing and

presenting the information.

In the U.S., government agencies have the power to recall

foods or products that could be dangerous to consumers. In

the e-Edition, read today's local, national or business section to find a product that has been recalled. Or find an example online. What is the product? Was it a voluntary or mandatory recall? From the information in the article, write a journal entry in the style of an Internet blog about what has happened.

Learning Standard: Generating questions about important issues that affect students or society, or topics about

which they are curious; narrowing the questions to a clear focus; writing fluently for multiple purposes.

How Well Did You Read?

Understanding what you read is a skill that will help you all through life. Review the story about choking dangers and food safety by answering the questions below.

1. According to the story, the American Academy of Pediatrics wants hot dogs and other products to have warning labels because of:

A. Fat content
B. Sodium content
C. Preservatives
D. Choking hazards

2. According to the story, many food manufacturers do not put warning labels on foods with high choking dangers because:

A. Nobody checks up on them
B. They are not required to
C. It costs too much money
D. Consumers won't buy products with warning labels

3. According to the story, the leading cause of injury and death in children is:

A. Car accidents
B. Obesity
C. Choking
D. Hot dogs

4. In the story, what food is not mentioned as a choking hazard:

A. Grapes
B. Cooked carrots
C. Popcorn
D. Nuts

5. According to the story, certain foods should be:

A. Cut lengthwise
B. Cut in quarters
C. Avoided
D. All of the above

ANSWERS: 1-D. 2-B. 3-C. 4-B. 5-D.

e-News Plus is written by Hollister Kids