Over the weekend I was surprised to see a warning label on a package of hot dogs I was about to grill and I couldn't help but immediately think,"Are you kidding me?" Hot dogs have been consumed in the same shape since the frankfurter of Vienna dating back to the 1480's and now we have to put labels on them warning of a possible choking hazard. My interest was peeked and I had to find out how this got started and where it came from.
After some reading, It's seems a lot of the press articles are centered around 4 year old Eric Stavros who choked to death on a piece of hot dog in 2001. Joan Stavros Adler happens to be a attorney in N.J. and has been pushing for more warning labels since her son's death, she is hoping the American Academy of Pediatrics will succeed in requiring food manufacturers to include choking labels on their products. So far the requirement hasn't been passed but some manufacturers like Oscar Mayer have started voluntarily.
In defense of the movement, the statistics are alarming in the fact that thousands of children are treated in emergency rooms every year for choking on foods to include candy, gum, grapes, and hot dogs. The American Academy of Pediatrics believes the reporting systems on such incidents are flawed and the risks of choking are not getting the attention of the public. In support of the food labeling arguments is U.S. federal law that requires choking warning labels on toys with small parts that could increase the risk of choking like balls, balloons, even fast food drive through toys. The academy is even taking it one step further and says the food industry should avoid shapes and sizes that could possibly cause a child to choke.
Spokesman for the FDA advise they would review the academy's analysis and recommendations. They would also assess choking hazards associated with food and take action on a case by case basis. I am not impressed at our government's call to action and the fact it takes 9 years to see any signs of progress regardless of the cause that was being fought. I wonder how many more children have died while waiting to educate the public?
I have also considered a different approach to the argument of food labeling, why not train the expecting parents in CPR and basic first responders as part of the hospital visit before taking the children home. Hospitals encourage and teach new mothers how to breast feed, why not CPR? I'm sure governmental agencies would be concerned with the cost but if cost is a problem you may already be on state medical insurance to have the baby. In this case, individual states can mandate requirements to qualify for the assistance just like a home ownership class before getting a first time home buyers loan. Private insurance companies could also make it a requirement, it's easier to pay out for prevention than covering a claim after the damage has been done. It's kind of like them paying 100 percent for a vasectomy and not for a reversal. Right?
Do any of us really know how to be parents in the beginning? I know my children didn't come with an instruction manual.
About this Author
Finding simplicity in a complex world can be difficult, but through focus, determination, willingness to learn things can become simple. Michael Kirby has lengthy experience with PC based computers, software, and networking. He has also had a career in retail sales, business management, and law. To learn how to simplify your life in more ways then one visit [http://www.simplejoes.com]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Kirby
