Ahead of Setsubun on the 3rd, the Consumer Affairs Agency is warning children under the age of 5 not to eat hard beans and other foods, as they may get stuck in the throat and cause suffocation.
According to the Consumer Affairs Agency, 141 cases of children under the age of 5 choking on food were reported by medical institutions across the country in the 10 years up to 2020. "Beans and nuts" account for approximately 20% of the total.
In February 2020, there was an accident in which a 4-year-old child choked and died after choking on Setsubun beans.
According to the Consumer Affairs Agency, children under the age of 5 do not have the molars to fully erupt and do not have sufficient chewing and swallowing power, so they are more likely to get stuck in their throats, such as beans, which may swell and cause suffocation. It is said that the pieces can enter the trachea and cause pneumonia or bronchitis, so before Setsubun, people are cautioned not to feed beans or nuts to children under the age of 5.
In addition, if you suspect that your child is suffocating, such as when they are unable to speak or their face suddenly becomes pale, it is necessary to immediately give first aid such as a ``back slap'' method, in which the child is hit firmly between the shoulder blades. Please check the Family Agency's website for detailed instructions.