Study Reveals 9 Foods That Often Cause Choking in Kids

Choking is a leading cause of severe injury and death for many infants and toddlers, and most choking-related incidents are preventable. Research shows that every 5 days, a child dies from food-related choking incidents ^[4]. The issue is not with all foods, but certain foods that have certain shapes, sizes, and textures. Let's find out what these top choking foods are and what research has to say…

What Are the Top Foods that Cause Choking In Children? 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), choking on food substances was associated with 41% of deaths in children ^[3], and over 10,400 children were treated in emergency departments for food-related choking episodes in 2001 alone ^[3]. The rates were highest for infants and young children under 14, making it one of those fears that keeps many parents on edge.

The CDC says that some foods served uncooked, whole, or in certain shapes or sizes can be choking hazards ^[2], and certain foods repeatedly appear across guidelines and studies as high-risk foods because of their shape, texture, or size. Foods such as:

1. Hot dogs
2. Whole grapes 
3. Whole nuts and seeds
4. Hard candy 
5. Marshmallows 
6. Chunks of cheese
7. Popcorn
8. Large spoonfuls of nut butter

Hot dogs, in particular, are extremely dangerous and are a common food specialty often served to kids. Experts say that hot dogs account for a large share of food-related choking deaths in kids under 3, with 17% of choking caused by hot dog inhalation ^[4]. This is because hot dogs have just the right size, cylinder shape, and texture to perfectly block the airway. it’s like a compressible plug that doesn’t allow any air to get through.

Over 2,100 choking-related episodes were from hard candy. This shows how common these incidents are and how choking can happen easily. Other foods, such as chunks of beef, bubble gum, granola bars, whole corn kernels, cherry tomatoes, chewy gummies, and dried fruits, can still cause choking in children.  

Parents should avoid serving such high-risk foods to children under the age of 5 years, instead, serve them in age-appropriate sizes and textures that are safer for young children. If prepared correctly, the risk of choking can be effectively reduced. 

Are Toddlers at Higher Risk of Choking on These Top Foods?

Infants and young children under 3 years are uniquely prone to choking on these top foods because they don’t have a full set of teeth to chew and grind their food before swallowing ^[4]. Children between 3 and 4 years of age have molars but are still learning how to chew properly, have a small airway, and are still developing oral skills such as chewing, making them at risk of choking on food.  

With foods like popcorn, hard candy, raw carrots, and whole nuts or seeds, they are tough and hard for children to chew effectively, and it's very easy for them to choke on these foods. Children shouldn't be given such foods until they are over 5 years of age, especially popcorn and hard candy.  

Toddlers’ high level of activity also puts them at risk for inhaling these foods while playing or running around. That's why parents should take measures to ensure food safety to prevent incidents of choking. Parents are to be careful with the size of foods their child is given to prevent the risk of choking, and never offer “big kid” textures before the child is developmentally ready. 

How to Prepare These Top Foods Safely to Prevent Choking in Children

Research agrees that some of these top high-risk foods can be prepared in such a way that makes them safer, while some others should be avoided completely until the child is developmentally mature enough to handle them ^[5]. Even the CDC affirms that there are ways these foods can be cut or mashed to reduce the risk of choking ^[2]. 

During the transition to solid foods, parents need to understand how to prepare their child’s food safely, as a food’s shape, texture, and size can increase the likelihood of choking ^[7]. ^{[7] [5] [6]} : 

Cut whole, round, and cylindrical foods like grapes, cherry tomatoes, soft cheese, and hot dogs, lengthwise and into small, grabable pieces. Large cuts of beef, chicken, or hard cheese can be cut into thin strips for young children. This way it's easier for toddlers and even babies to handle with no worries about choking.

Hard vegetables and fruits like carrots and apples should be cooked until soft enough to pierce with a fork, as hard pieces could break off and lodge in a child's airway. They should also be cut into thin, lengthwise strips before serving. 

Never give whole nuts and seeds like peanuts, walnuts, and almonds to children under 4. Instead, they can be crushed into yogurts or served as thinly spread nut butters on toasts. Also, avoid serving popcorn, marshmallows, dried fruits, hard candy, bubble gum, ice cubes, and gummy treats to children until older.

Can Mealtime Behaviors Prevent Choking on Foods?

Sometimes, even with good food safety measures taken with food preparations, some mealtime behaviors of young children can still lead to choking on these top foods or even any food at all. And as children grow, it is important to teach them safe mealtime behaviours that would help reduce the risk of choking. 

As parents, it's our job to provide a safe environment for our kids during mealtimes, teach good mealtime behaviors, and ensure they follow these rules when eating to ensure safety. Guidelines from experts and research repeatedly emphasize parental supervision, good sitting posture, calm and distraction-free mealtime environments, and serving age-appropriate meals as critical factors for prevention, as many choking events happen when children are distracted or moving. 

Ensure your child doesn’t eat these top foods or any food while running, playing, in a car seat or stroller, lying down, or laughing, as they are fast ways that choking can happen. Instead, sitting upright in a highchair is safer. When children learn good mealtime behaviors like eating slowly, chewing before swallowing, and having no distractions like toys or screens at the table, the risk of choking on such foods is lower ^{[7] [5] [6] [1]}. 

Only offer these top choking foods in age-appropriate textures, supervise your child at all times, and never leave them unattended during mealtime. Also, learning to perform choking first aid, such as the Heimlich Maneuver and Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), could save a child's life in case of a choking incident.