Pediatricians urge choking warning labels for food

Associated Press ^ | Feb 22, 2010 | LINDSEY TANNER

[decimon]

CHICAGO – 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.

[flowerplough]

“his anguished mother never dreamed that the popular kids’ food could be so dangerous.”

Maybe the warnings should be stickered onto ignorant, inattentive, oblivious parents.

[AF_Blue]

How about pediatricians just advise the mothers to teach children to take smaller bites, chew slowly and don’t swallow until the food is completely chewed? It’s my understanding old people got old without the need for “choking hazard” labels on food.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

OMG I’m A FREAKING genius - I was cutting up weenies for my kids 21 years ago - WAY before any warning label - how did I figure this out all by myself? Wow, oh and for you less intelligent folks here’s a tip....keep knives and scissors away from children too..... one of these days the government is going to warn you about these items too, just wait

[Moltke]

She was at the point of designing the labeling on the bag in a box container, much like wine, when her Swiss partner told her all that design work had to be done in the EU. Besides the mandatory multiple languages, the labeling there appears to be a nightmare of mandatory fine print and only experienced European graphic designers have the experience to get it all on the packaging without totally obscuring the brand and weight/volume of the contents.

1. Switzerland is not part of the EU.

2. BS.

[jakerobins]

The perfect issues for libs....They get to ban a “unhealthy” food....and he feminazi’s get to say they banned Weiners.....LOL

[reformedliberal]

I am reporting what I was told.

[reformedliberal]

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=PRES/04/281&format=HTML&aged=0&language=en&guiLanguage=en

5. AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND THE SWISS CONFEDERATION AMENDING THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY AND THE SWISS CONFEDERATION OF 22 JULY 1972 AS REGARDS THE PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO PROCESSED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

This Agreement aims at updating the Protocol No 2 of the bilateral Free Trade Agreement in accordance with the results of the Uruguay Round and at adapting its product coverage. It also intends to resolve outstanding problems affecting trade, all of them taking account of the existing trade arrangements for basic agricultural products The Agreement also renders permanent the transitional measures agreed with the Swiss authorities in connection with the implementation of the agreement reached in view to maintain the trade flow between the Swiss Confederation and the new Member States after enlargement of the European Union as of 1st May 2004 and to improve reciprocal market access for processed agricultural products.

It appears that Switzerland is party to many treaties governing trade with the EU members and has been for nearly 40 years. The product was to be sold throughout Europe.

There was no reason for the syrup producer to lie.

[Moltke]

True enough, there are such treaties between the EU and Switzerland. But I have never seen any label that couldn’t be read for all the fine print or whatever. They look pretty much the same as they do in the US and elsewhere.

[reformedliberal]

I don’t personally know, either way. That is just what the producer told us.

However, I am 67 and I sometimes need a magnifier to read ingredients and warnings, especially of tri-lingual products configured for NAFTA. Small packages are the worst.

Wouldn’t there be at least three languages on any labeled product originating from Switzerland? And, from what I have read of EU regulations, are the labels like those from California, that display various warnings, complete with legislative descriptors of the dangers of any/all ingredients in the product? I purchase dyes from a California company that have two separate boxed warnings designated by California codes, one concerning an active ingredient and a generic one for powdered products that warns against inhalation, listing the consequences. Luckily, it is only in English.

I had no reason to doubt the producer, but thanks for the input.

[Moltke]

And, from what I have read of EU regulations, are the labels like those from California, that display various warnings, complete with legislative descriptors of the dangers of any/all ingredients in the product?

First of all, let me say that it was not my intention to put your veracity in question. I see labels with multi-language ingredients lists (in very small print) on packages in the EU. Warnings perhaps on chemicals that can be harmful - e.g. household cleaners containing acids or the like - (not on foodstuffs). Legislative descriptors, never.

On the whole, the usual big logo/trademark image on the front, the small print on the back. And, just sayin', all that small print stuff was adopted from the US precedents. (EU bureaucrats will pick up on any stupid (arguable, that) nanny state ideas.)