Product Liability Law Blog

Choking accidents is the number one cause of death for kids in the 14 and under age group, and now, the American Academy of Pediatrics want food manufacturers to put warning labels on foods that pose this particular danger to kids. The country's largest group of pediatricians says that at least one kid in the US dies every five day from a food-related choking accident.

More than 10,000 children end up in hospital ERs each year because of choking accidents. Kids 4 and under are the ones at highest risk of getting hurt or dying from accidentally choking on food. All their molars haven't grown in, and their airways are just small enough for food and other foreign objects to get caught in.

The pediatrician's group says that if the federal government can put into place standards, laws, and regulations protecting children from toys and other products that are choking hazards, then why can't the same protections be enforced over food? The group even wants food manufacturers to resize and shape foods that are choking hazards.

Examples of foods that are choking hazards:

• Hot Dogs


• Peanut butter


• Grapes


• Peanuts


• Candies


• Popcorn


• Marshmallows


• Chips


• Apples


• Carrots


• Chunks of meat


• Cheese pieces

Choking can occur when a child swallows a foreign object that gets stuck in his/her airways. Just a few minutes being deprived of oxygen can cause a traumatic brain injury or lead to death. WebMD.com reports that choking is the number one cause of child brain injuries.

Our child injury lawyers believe that product manufacturers should be held accountable for injuries to children and minors that are caused by their defectively designed or manufactured products.

US Pediatricians Call for Action to Prevent Choking Deaths, VOANews, February 23, 2010

Labels urged for foods that can choke kids

Related Web Resources:
Choking Prevention, HealthyChildren.org

American Academy of Pediatrics

Continue reading "Injuries to Children: Pediatricians Want Warning Labels on Foods that Are Choking Hazards" »

A salmonella outbreak affecting certain products with peanuts has resulted in the recall of over 800 food products, says USA Today. More recalls are expected in what some people are calling the world's largest food recall ever.

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that the illnesses caused by Salmonella Typhimurium came from peanut paste and peanut butter products made at a Peanut Corp of America processing plant in Georgia. Food and Drug Administration inspectors who had visited the peanut plant found cockroaches and mold at the plant. Employees also reportedly have been using one sink to clean mops and utensils and wash their hands. On Friday, the Department of Justice joined a probe to determine whether criminal charges need to be filed.

So far, at least 529 reports of illnesses and at least 8 deaths are being linked to tainted peanut products. There are likely dozens of other sick people who have been affected by the same salmonella virus but have not reported that they got sick.

On January 26, 2009, the family of Shirley Mae Almer sued PCA and distributor King Nut Companies for wrongful death. Almer died in December 2008 while staying at a nursing home. According to the wrongful death lawsuit, Almer died because she ate peanut butter that was contaminated with Salmonella Typhimurium while at the nursing home. More peanut butter lawsuits related to the contaminated PCA products are expected.

According to the Grocery Manufacturer's Association, PCA supplies less than 1% of all peanut products that are sold in the US. However, the peanut making company has over 300 customers. PCA peanut products can be found in crackers, ice cream, cookies, cereals, and other food products. A complete list of food products affected by the contaminated peanut products recall can be found below. Keebler cookies, certain special K products, and Walgreens candy are just some of the food products that have been recalled.

Salmonella Food Poisoning
Salmonella food poisoning is a form of bacterial food poisoning that can cause the lining of the stomach and intestines to swell. Salmonella food poisoning can be very dangerous for babies, people with weakened immune systems, and older people. If the infection spreads from the intestines to the blood steam, as well as other parts of the body, a person infected by the salmonella virus could become seriously ill or die.

Stores Call Customers About Salmonella-Tainted Peanut Products, US News & World Report, February 3, 2009

Peanut Butter Recall Scares Residents, Fox News 5, February 3, 2009

Family sues over salmonella-related death, Forbes.com, January 27, 2009

Salmonella Food Poisoning, US News and World Report, February 3, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Peanut Butter and other Peanut Containing Products Recall List, Food and Drug Administration

Read the FDA's Report Following an Inspection of the PCA Plant in Georgia (PDF)

Continue reading "Over 800 Peanut Product Recalls Issued In the Wake of Salmonella Outbreak" »