This is my son Eric. Eric was a healthy, happy, fun-loving four-year-old boy that is - until February 27, 2001. That day started like most others - fun at pre-school and play time on the computer. But at the end of that day, Eric died in front of us. The cause - Eric at a hot dog cut up into chunks, just as he had eaten many times before. But this time was different - and deadly. Eric choked and his life ended.

Now every day, my family and I wrestle with the unbearable pain of never seeing or holding Eric again. In six agonizing minutes, every dream we had for Eric passed from our lives. I am speaking for Eric now and for the other children who have died in similar fashion. I want to help Americans understand that food asphyxiation is not a freak accident. It is the fourth-leading cause of death in children under the age of five. During the course of this work week, at least one child will die after choking on common foods such as hot dogs, peanuts, grapes, and popcorn. Because of their shapes, and their pliability, these foods are very effective at cutting off a young child's oxygen supply.

I took special precautions during Eric's short life to protect him from what I considered the dangers of life - holding his hand in a parking lot, locking the gate of the swimming pool, reading toy labels to make sure they were appropriate for his age. I am an educated person but I never realized how dangerous a hot dog could be.

When Eric died, I tried to find out...was my child, at his tender age, more at risk from choking on food than an adult? Are hot dogs inherently dangerous for small children? I asked my pediatrician these questions and his response was a resounding "No." He was wrong.

The most comprehensive study on the issue was done in 1984 at Johns Hopkins University, and it was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. This study analyzed data from food-related asphyxiations of children up to age nine in 41 states from 1979 to 1981. According to the study, more than 90 percent of these deaths occurred in children younger than five years - and hot dogs were most frequently cited as the highest-risk food product. Children under five lack molars for thorough chewing. They have smaller air passages and weaker abilities to cough out obstructions. And, as we learned all too tragically, a hot dog can make a perfect plug for a young child's airway. I was not aware of these facts - nor was my pediatrician. There are no universal warnings of the risks presented by certain foods such as hot dogs, grapes, peanuts, and popcorn... foods routinely given to children, but shown to be risky for them.

Now, I understand that not every child's death can be prevented. But I also know that clear and simple labeling standards for food manufacturers...along the lines of the standards already in place for toy manufacturers.. .can prevent many of the horrible deaths such as the one suffered by Eric and dozens of other American children every year.

The toy standards show the power of universal information. In 1979, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission established regulations to protect children younger than three years from choking on toys and other nonfood products. These standards saved many children's lives because parents were made aware of these risks for the first time. By contrast, no steps have been taken to protect our children from common foods posing similar…and actually more serious...choking risks.

Representatives Michael Honda and Michael Ferguson's bill does just that. It gives the Food and Drug Administration the power to determine which foods pose specific choking risks for young children, and to require informational labels on food products which pose a demonstrably high choking risk. These regulations are simple, inexpensive...and overdue. They will help prevent hundreds of choking deaths and tens of thousands of tragic choking accidents that all too often leave children seriously brain damaged. Educating Americans is the best way to prevent the tragedy that happened in our family. I know the dreams we had for Eric are gone. I implore Congress to act quickly on Representatives Honda and Ferguson's bill...so that other parents' dreams will live on.

Every five days, a child in the United States dies from choking on food. More than 90% of these children are younger than 5 years old. Further, more than 10,000 children are taken to emergency rooms each year for injuries sustained from choking on a food.

Ironically, the all American hot dog is one of the most dangerous choking hazards for kids. It often comes in packages clearly marketed for children, but with no information on how parents should prepare and serve this food to youngsters.

Fortunately, tragedies like these can be prevented through better labeling. Today, we are appealing to producers of more than 300 brands of foods that kids can choke on, including hot dogs, candy, popcorn, peanut butter, nuts, and certain fruits and vegetables, to add a simple safety label to their products. The label would inform parents that such foods should either not be served to children under five or served only if they are chopped, sliced or prepared in some other manner that makes them safe for consumption by young children. It's a simple step - but one that will save kids' lives. We hope the industry acts promptly.

This toy and this food can both cause a child to choke and die. The toy carries a warning label - the food product doesn't. Just as we protect our children from choking hazards from toys like these, shouldn't we also protect our children from choking on foods like these? Some food companies are already placing warning labels on their products. If these companies can do it, then their competitors should do it as well.

But labeling is just the first step in protecting kids from food choking hazards. Representatives Honda and Ferguson have heard the cries of many families and are introducing legislation today that will require the Food and Drug Administration to take additional steps to reduce the number of children that die from choking on foods each year. We urge the FDA and the Administration to work with Representatives Honda and Ferguson to make this bipartisan legislation a reality and to save American families from any more needless tragedies.

Today, a mother has shared her tragic story about choking. Unfortunately, her story is not unique. In 2000, 160 children died from choking. In other words, in 2000 we lost approximately 6 classrooms of children to a preventable event. Forty percent of these children choked on a food product.

Young children are at greatest risk for choking because of their unique anatomy and natural curiosity. Young children discover their worlds by putting objects in their mouths. Developmentally, they are learning the process of chewing and swallowing. If an object obstructs their airway they are at greater risk because their trachea is so small. Thus an object that would not cause problems for an adult airway can completely obstruct a child's airway. Hot dogs, candies, nuts, grapes, carrots and popcorn are just a few of the food items children commonly choke on.

A few key interventions can be implemented to prevent these tragic deaths. The first is public education about the problem. Parents are often unaware of the risk of certain food items. Education needs to occur at multiple levels. While families likely receive information about choking hazards during their child's health visits, more frequent reminders are necessary. Labels on foods associated with choking would provide parents with time-sensitive reminders. These labels could alert parents to cut food items into smaller pieces or remind them of the need for closer supervision. While there is no single solution to choking, safety information labels can be an important step to increase awareness of parents.

Choking is a preventable injury. As a physician in the emergency room, I regret the times I have had to notify a family about the death of their child. Please support this simple step - food labeling is an essential component that can prevent future choking deaths.