MANILA, December 27 - - Last year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received a confirmed report that two children aged three (3) and eight (8) years old were brought to the hospital because a part of a “torotot”, a noise maker detached during use and was aspirated. The children were treated to remove the foreign objects in their airway.
Certain types of ‘‘torotot’’ are made locally from plastic, foil and paper attached together using adhesives and are used to produce noise during the celebration of the New Year. These parts may be removed during use and might be swallowed by the children.
The FDA warns the public on the use of these types of “torotot” because of the possible choking hazard associated with it. Small children may choke if the detached part is aspirated. Always check on the quality of the “torotot” before purchase. Make sure that the parts are not easily removed so as not to cause hazard to the user particularly the children. These “torotots” have no warning labels and their manufacturers/distributors have no license from the DOH-FDA.
For more information regarding this matter, you may call the Food and Drug Administration at 165-FDA (332) or at 0927-9425539/09273906529. (DOH-FDA/PIA9/ALT)