Recently, candy manufacturers recalled kids’ treats after finding that the candy’s components could detach from the product and present a choking hazard.

Rolling candy sold nationwide recalled after death of 7-year-old. CBS News.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled nearly 150,000 products from Cocco Candy Rolling Candy on ​​October 5 after a 7-year-old girl choked and died when the ball dislodged earlier this year. “Consumers should stop using the recalled rolling candy immediately, take it away from children and contact KGR Distribution Corp. for a refund,” CPSC said on their site.

The recall includes Cocco Candy’s Rolling Candy in various flavours, including Sour Strawberry, Sour Tutti Frutti, and Sour Cola. The candy was made in Turkey and distributed by KGR Distribution Corp. in Passaic, New Jersey. 

Additionally, 70 million units of Candy Dynamics’s Slime Licker Sour Rolling Liquid Candy were recalled the same day, with the CPSC receiving “two reports of the rolling applicator ball detaching from the container.” No injuries were reported as of yet.

Candy dynamics recalls 70 million slime licker sour rolling liquid candies due to choking hazard. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Certain children might be at greater risk of choking, according to a 2022  Frontiers in Public Health paper on preventing food choking injuries in children. “The most disadvantaged social classes have less access to higher education, social integration, and appropriate health care policies,” the authors write. “Such conditions might promote negligence and a lack of attention during parental caregiving and surveillance activities regarding younger children,” they write. As in all cases, healthcare providers should take the time to educate marginalized parents on food safety.

Lorenzoni G, Hochdorn A, Beltrame Vriz G, et al. Regulatory and educational initiatives to prevent food choking injuries in children: an overview of the current approaches. Front Public Health. 2022;10:830876.

Keeping young patients safe

With Halloween approaching, your young patient’s parents are likely wondering how to keep them safe and healthy—especially given these recent candy recalls. 

Christina Johns, MD, MEd, FAAP, a pediatric emergency doctor and senior medical advisor at PM Pediatric Care in New Haven, CT, says Halloween offers an opportunity to evaluate what kids are or are not able to do or eat: “Be mindful of letting children go trick-or-treating by themselves. This will usually depend on their age, developmental level, and the type of neighborhood you live in,” she says. “Remind kids not to eat the candy they gather as they walk around; they should be bringing all of their ‘loot’ home to be inspected for allergens and unwanted materials before consumption.”

Gina Posner, MD, board-certified pediatrician at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA adds that certain candies may pose more of an issue than others. For example, she says, “Wrapped and sealed candies are generally okay,” Dr. Posner says, “but there are always exceptions.” 

“As for candies with caps and capsules, you need to be there to remove anything before you even hand it to a child,” Dr. Posner says. “Softer candies are okay, but you still want to watch kids eat them because kids can choke on random things we don't expect. Little kids should be well-supervised,” Dr. Posner notes. 

“If a toddler wants to eat a larger candy bar, cut it up into smaller pieces to prevent choking,” Dr. Johns adds. 

Dr. Posner also suggests reminding patients’ parents that Halloween snacking can cause other issues—like gastrointestinal distress. “We see a lot of kids that vomit because they’ve stuffed themselves with way too much…,” she says. “Parents should give kids a couple [of] pieces and then let them enjoy maybe a few small pieces per day.”

While conversations around choking and Halloween candy safety can certainly cause a bit of anxiety for parents, Dr. Johns says that healthcare providers should keep the conversation helpful and encouraging. “Don’t fearmonger about the dangers of Halloween. Rather, these precautions should be discussed as normal measures similar to hand washing and proper hygiene,” she says, encouraging parents to use Halloween as a chance to talk to kids about the importance of knowing what they’re consuming and how certain foods may pose choking risks.

And as a reminder, Dr. Johns says, “Know and review first aid/CPR procedures in case an emergency does occur.”