- Obstruction of the airway can occur at the level of the pharynx or the trachea. Foods that can adapt their shape to that of the pharynx (such as bananas, marshmallows, or gelatinous candies) can be a danger not just for children but for persons of any age.
- Choking due to a foreign object resulted in 162,000 deaths in 2013 up from 140,000 deaths in 1990