Hard Candies

Foreign Body

Jawbreakers and other hard, round candies (such as bon-bons, cough drops and spherical lollipops) can be lethal if inhaled (between or below the vocal cords); or if swallowed (by compressing the airway from behind). Flat lollipops are safer.

In the United States, hard candies are one of the leading causes of choking.[Ref:1]

Soft chewing gum can also be a choking hard, but is less likely to be lethal.

Did You Know?!

In the European Union each year, an estimated 50,000 children (14 years or younger) have a choking episode.[Ref:34]