Radiolab cover image

Our Little Stupid Bodies

Radiolab

NOTE

Risks of Choking on Traditional Rice Cake Soup

The traditional rice cake soup in Japan is made of pounded rice flour mixed with water, creating a chewy texture that can become gooey when softened in the water. Older people may struggle to chew the rice cake fully, leading to choking and potentially fatal incidents. Between 2006 and 2016, 800 people in Japan died from food choking deaths, especially on New Year's, prompting the dissemination of public service announcements (PSAs) to raise awareness about the risks and precautions, including the importance of chopping the rice cake into small pieces and knowing how to perform the Heimlich maneuver.

00:00
Transcript
Play full episode

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
App store bannerPlay store banner