2 dead, 13 hospitalized in Tokyo after choking on mochi

Educator60Jan. 3 09:15 am JST

I have done enough to know that nowadays in the USA it’s recommended that grapes, hot dogs, and such be sliced before being fed to small children.

Right, but people rarely do so... not saying that makes it ok, but my point being that only so many resources can be spent on warning people.

Educatir60.

Thanks for your post.

Yeah, I get strange faces, etc when people realise I eat Genmai, old thinking, etc.

Totally ignoring that genmai used to be the norm.

Granted Genmai in supers, etc is pricey, hence I order online (free delivery).

Granted, not all rice-cokers can do Mochi rice, but I was talking more traditional pounded mochi. But my former does bread(standard not rice bread)

Recall many trips to resorts and mochi was made year-round

Never had Genmai mochi but I order genmai 30kg/8.000yen online.

Need to try it.

Honestly, doubt that many Tokyoites got the space or means to homemake mochi will be bought.

Those lines on mochi can help cutting but not their purpose, the round bitesized mochi I use is great, grilling it gives it a crunchy exterior.

Never knew the dangers Pretzels, guess we all learn a lot raising kids, looking after family members.

BTW, Niku-man, bread, etc pose a similar hazard as does konnyaku (jelly).

Pukey2Today 01:04 am JST

I just find mochi the blandest of all food.

I guess if you eat only mochi, then it might be bland, but so is bread, rice, and pasta if you eat it with no sauce or toppings.

Yes, of course it's sad that people die from choking on mochi, but IMO, people have been warned time and time again using different media outlets... and if people still do not take precautions, then who is to take responsibility other than those who make the choice to ingest it? It's not like mochi is lethal by nature... companies don't sell or serve mochi laced with poison, or with razor blades stuck in it.

I read once that hot dogs are one of the top choking hazards for children (in the US). Has anybody ever heard people trying to make hot dog manufacturers or servers liable for choking on a dog? Well, maybe in America, any lawsuit is possible...

I just find mochi the blandest of all food.

About 5 years ago, I had mochi at my brother-in-law's house. For a few days after that, I was throwing up everything I had been eating. The last time was the mochi which I guess had been blocking any food coming in. That was the last time I ever ate it.

Any death is significant!

To reason that only statistical sigicance is relevant really misses the point......

Do they also sell mochi chopped up in safer sized pieces? If not perhaps they need to start.

They probably should. The nearly square pieces are marked with vertical and horizontal lines like the kanji 田 as if to suggest cutting them into safer sizes.

Of course not. It would be nice if people didn't die, but I agree with how things are - fair warning is put out there about the dangers, and some people choose to eat it regardless. If they die as a result, that's their choice, and it's said, but it's their choice...

Yes, it is sad, but you are assuming that those who die, know about the dangers of eating mochi or have been warned of the dangers of possibly choking on them. One would think they would know but that is only an assumption.

In addition to public safety, there could be product liability issues and at question is whether the dangers is common knowledge or not: nam ips scientia potentia est.

I had my mochi grilled with bacon, cheese and onion and others with mentaiko and cheese. It was delicious! Every year it's the same thing despite the TV and media campaigns and the written warnings on mochi labels. Ignorance can be cured, but stupidity cannot!

@Strangerland - 15/130,000 people had troubles with it. That's about 0.000015% of the population.

Great math! It's a shame this article only refers to the 15 people in Tokyo though, which would make your calculations out of 16 million, not 130 million. Miss that one, didn't you?

Do they also sell mochi chopped up in safer sized pieces? If not perhaps they need to start.

Forgot to add... ;)=

Need to make it a controlled substance. Only pharmacists can dispense with a prescription.

Just curious. Does this happen anywhere else in the world?

The link below says that over 5,000 people choked to death in the USA in 2015. 2,848 of these were aged over 74. Not all were necessarily caused by food.

http://www.nsc.org/learn/safety-knowledge/Pages/safety-at-home-choking.aspx

I don't have similar figures for Japan, but if they are similar, the New Year mochi panic may be just part of normal events.

Just curious. Does this happen anywhere else in the world?

This is tragic. What a way to go, choking to death on a gooey rice cake. Hopefully they make their warning labels bigger and brighter from now on. Maybe attach a spring loaded sledgehammer to the packaging.

Mochi is a specialty of New Year season. Japanese think without eating mochi, they do not feel they are celebrating new year. It is not all year round food. In the meantime, I do not give chewing gums to infants. They are as dangerous as giving mochi to old folks.

You seem rather jubilant the count was so low instead of being zero deaths.

Of course not. It would be nice if people didn't die, but I agree with how things are - fair warning is put out there about the dangers, and some people choose to eat it regardless. If they die as a result, that's their choice, and it's said, but it's their choice, and it's obvious that it's not a big problem, as evidenced by the numbers that are so small, they would be considered insignificant statistically.

The poster pointing out Japan's lack of safety conscientiousness on this issue is not wrong, because it happens every time.

If any infringement upon safety, no matter how small, means a country is not safe, there is literally not a single safe spot on this entire planet.

pacint: "Mochi can be had and eaten year round but alas only the deaths at new year get counted."

I doubt that very much, except as "New Year's deaths attributed to mochi". I've no doubt that if someone choked to death on it during the year you can easily find out. It's just that common sense and safety to take a back seat to "tradition" and "convenience" come New Year's.

Strangerland: "Mochi. So dangerous it should be outlawed to even think about it."

You seem rather jubilant the count was so low instead of being zero deaths. This happens EVERY year, and it is 100% preventable. That's the only zero here, that there is no year we don't read about this. Who is saying mochi should be outlawed besides you deflecting? The poster pointing out Japan's lack of safety conscientiousness on this issue is not wrong, because it happens every time. Maybe people who are around the person who dies need to be held accountable if they served it in large pieces (not much you can do about people who serve it to themselves in large pieces).

Even so, a horrible way to die, choking to death, unable to breathe.

As safety conscious as Japan is supposed to be

15/130,000 people had troubles with it. That's about 0.000015% of the population.

Mochi. So dangerous it should be outlawed to even think about it.

Different are = similar ads

Mochi is a very traditional food served year round. Glad that the death toll is same as last year.

Mochi can be had and eaten year round but alas only the deaths at new year get counted.

I been hearing the same for years, cut into small pieces, preferably grill it and have plenty of fluids soup, etc ready for consumption

How many like to drop whole chunks (more than mouthful) into their Zoni makes it rubbery and stringy/hard to chew,.

I usually get round mochi 4cm dia, 8mm thickness, drop in oven toaster for a bit.

We used to have different are for konnyaku jelly years ago.

As safety conscious as Japan is supposed to be,you would think that by now they would have a safe mochi eating campaign with cheerful mascots and cute adult teenager acting women demonstrating how to properly eat mochi to the applause of an eagerly observant crowd.

Let me get this straight.

People are warned annually over the danger of choking on mochi. It is well known for choking people who can't or don't eat mochi in a manner that does not end up possibly choking them. Yet they still end up being choked. Is that right?