14 DAY TRIAL // This past New Year's celebrations, a record number of people in Japan passed away after eating rice cakes and choking on them. In a nutshell, the treats are said to have killed nearly a dozen individuals this holiday season.
Mind you, these deaths weren't the first to have until now been caused by rice cakes served in Japan as a means to celebrate the New Year. On the contrary, in 2013 and 2014, rice cakes were blamed for 2 and 4 deaths, respectively.
Eating rice cakes is rather tricky
Authorities in Japan explain that rice cakes are insanely popular during the first week of January, when people living in the country consume them in impressive quantities. Thus, they are either added to soup or served with dried seaweed or soy sauce.
The trouble with rice cakes, otherwise known as mochi, is that they have a tendency to get stuck in people's throat. This is because they are fairly starchy and quite sticky. Whenever this happens, folks risks being unable to go on breathing and choke to death.
Not at all surprisingly, it is children and elderly individuals who are most likely to choke to death on rice cakes. Regardless, authorities recommend that everybody cut these treats into bite-size pieces before trying to eat them.
Besides, it is also recommended that those who are determined not to let the New Year celebrations go by without indulging in a couple of rice cakes take the time to thoroughly chew them before moving on to swallowing them, The Guardian informs.
This year's death toll
It is understood that rice cakes made and served in Japan to celebrate the beginning of this year have so far killed as many as 9 people. The victims all passed away after the rice cakes got lodged in their throat and blocked their airways.
As mentioned, these treats have so far killed plenty of other people. Still, the fact of the matter is that this year's death toll is considerably greater than the one documented in previous years.
Besides, word has it that, apart from the 9 individuals who died after eating rice cakes, another 13 needed urgent medical attention and ended up in the hospital after indulging in such traditional dishes.
Doctors say that, should anyone witness a person choking on a rice cake, the best thing to do to try and save their life is to perform the Heimlich maneuver or simply give them a hearty slap on the back. Hopefully, this will help them cough out the food stuck in their throat.