Parents issued warning over chocolate mini eggs after they hit supermarket shelves for Easter

Safety experts have issued a warning to parents this Easter surrounding a popular easter treat.

Chocolate eggs of all varieties lining the shelves of every supermarket are one of the greatest sights this time of year.

But with the shape of smaller eggs being likened to a grape, experts are warning parents who plan on giving their children the sweet treat to be vigilant.

Their hard shell and small round size can make them a choking hazard, particularly for young children, so what can be done to avoid the risk?

Ben Griffiths on Unsplash.

The Child Accident Prevention Trust posted on social media saying: “They are the perfect size to block a small child’s airway and choke them, and their hard shell can make it difficult to dislodge with standard first aid techniques.

“With whole grapes we advise cutting them in half lengthways and ideally into quarters to create thin strips.

“But chopping up these eggs isn’t as easy.”

The charity recommends putting the eggs into a sealed bag and smashing them with a rolling pin, making them a better size for young ones.

They also suggest opting for a larger, more hollow chocolate egg around this time of year.

Alternatively, the organisation said to hide them and eat them yourself, which we personally love the sound of way more than the other suggestions.

The recommended age for those consuming the product is four, and this is written on the packet, as well as a choking warning.

But lots could miss the detail while diving in for the first handful.

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A spokesperson for Mondelēz International, which owns Cadbury - one manufacturer of the sweet treats - said: “The safety of consumers is of the upmost importance to us. All of our Cadbury Mini Eggs packaging carries a very clear choking hazard warning and states that these products are not suitable for children under the age of four.”

According to St John’s Ambulance, there are a couple of ways you can spot choking in your child.

These include difficulty breathing, a red puffy face, showing signs of distress, they may also grasp their throat.

FirstAidForLife also warned about the choking hazards in older children who wear braces: “A further hidden danger of sweets and choking has been highlighted when children or adults first wear fixed dental braces.

“As their tongue and teeth adapt to the new appliance, their usual ability to control food items in the mouth – including chocolate treats – is severely reduced and has led to instances of choking.

“Extra care needs to be paid to this period of adjustment.”

Topics: Food and Drink, Health, Easter

Mia Williams