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Two O-Mochi on a plate: Experts warn of the dangers
Photo: Lars Nicolaysen / dpa
An elderly woman choked on a rice dumpling on New Year's Day in Tokyo.
As the Japanese daily »Mainichi Shimbun« reported, the woman, who was in her 90s, was taken to the hospital with choking fits because a sticky rice ball called o-mochi got stuck in her throat.
Any help came too late for them.
In total, nine women and men between the ages of 28 and 93 had to go to the hospital on the three New Year holidays in the country's capital alone because of suffocation as a result of eating o-mochi, it was said.
Every year anew - mostly older - Japanese people choke on the dumplings made of mashed rice, which are traditionally served on New Year's Day.
Although there are always fatal attacks of suffocation, hardly anyone wants to do without o-mochi at the New Year festival.
In order to prevent accidents, the media provide information on tips for emergencies every year.
Experts advise cutting the rice dumplings into bite-sized pieces and chewing them slowly before eating.
The throat should be moistened with tea, for example, before swallowing.
aeh/dpa
