A worried mum has issued a stark warning over the dangers of giving Cadbury Mini Eggs to young children ahead of Easter Sunday, as she said the small chocolate treats can pose a choking hazard.
Millions of us will be tucking into a variety of chocolate this weekend, but for the little ones among us, extra care should be taken when enjoying the small egg-shaped chocolates with hard sugar shells.
The mum posted her warning to parents on her Facebook page, Nanny Valentine - Child Behaviour Coach, and said that much like grapes, Mini Eggs should be cut in half before they are given to a young child to reduce the risk of them choking.
She wrote in her post: "Many parents are now aware of the dangers of grapes and cut them in half.
Get the news you want straight to your inbox. Sign up for a Mirror newsletter here.
"Many parents don't even see these chocolate treats as a danger but they are and mustn't be given to children under 4!
"I cringe every time I see little ones munching on these delicious treats.
"They are hard and the perfect shape to get lodged in a child's throat. If this post saves a little one from a terrible accident then it's worth me posting.
"My children are often bought these at Easter but sorry boys mummy has to eat these.
"Please share and help raise awareness of the danger of these eggs to our little ones."
The mum first shared her Facebook post back in 2017, and while it has since been deleted from the site, thousands of concerned parents have continued to share it every year to help raise awareness for those who are unaware of the dangers.
When contacted by The Mirror for comment, a Cadbury spokesperson said: “The safety of our customers is of the utmost importance to us and we ensure that all of our Cadbury Mini Eggs packaging very clearly carries the following warning: Choking Hazard: This product is Not suitable for children under 4.”
The Mirror also previously spoke to St John Ambulance for advice on the small chocolate eggs, and National Training Officer Isobel Kearl encouraged parents to learn what to do in the event of their child choking.
She said: "Anything of that size can be a choking hazard so we would encourage parents to cut up their child’s food into small (lengthwise) pieces and be vigilant at all times especially when children are eating.
“Knowing basic first aid can have an incredible impact. Armed with this knowledge parents will gain the confidence to take action quickly, and ensure that they are able to act if their child starts to choke.”
You can find more information on what to do when your baby is choking via the St John Ambulance website.
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at yourmirror@trinitymirror.com .
