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Relish That Hot Dog, You Might Not Recognize Your Next One

By Eric Lipman

Yesterday, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a policy statement on Prevention of Choking Among Children (PDF). A laudable goal, no doubt. One particular recommendation found in the report, though, has got the American public's hackles up. The kiddie docs identified the hot dog as the food on which little Billy is most likely to choke and die. This is because of their "cylindrical, airway sized, and compressible" nature. And you thought Dan Aykroyd made them sound unappealing. Some manufacturers already include warnings about the choking risk on their packaging, urging parents to cut the hot dogs into kid-sized pieces, though it is not mandated by the FDA. Enforcing a labeling change, however, isn't the end of the pediatricians' suggestion as regards the nation's frankfurter supply. They have actually called for the hot dog, and other similarly shaped meat products, to be redesigned. Gentlemen, we can rebuild the wiener. We have the technology. Overkill, say those New Yorkers who spoke with CNN's Jeannie Moos. Even the guy who claims to have once choked on a hot dog himself: Imagine if she'd conducted her interviews in Hot Dog City. If this redesign movement gains traction, we can only hope that whoever...

Full post as published by Legal Blog Watch on February 23, 2010 (boomark / email).