A mother experienced a terrifying ordeal when her young child began choking on a sweet purchased from Aldi, causing him to stop breathing and turn blue for two minutes. Bethany Holden recounted giving her 16-month-old son, Brody McAllister, Aldi’s ‘Dino Gems’ candies as a dessert after dinner on October 22. After consuming half the packet, Brody suddenly fell silent, signaling to his alarmed parents that he was in distress.
Acting swiftly, the 29-year-old stay-at-home mother began patting Brody’s back while her partner, Stefan McAllister, administered back blows to dislodge the obstruction from the toddler’s airways. Despite their efforts, Brody continued to struggle for breath, his complexion turning blue and eyes bulging. Bethany sought help from a neighbor with medical training, who performed additional back blows until Brody finally coughed and cried, indicating he could breathe again.
Following the harrowing incident, Brody was taken to the hospital where doctors confirmed no internal injuries. Nevertheless, Bethany raised concerns about the product’s safety, pointing out the lack of age restrictions on the £1.09 Dino Gems sweets packaging. She advocated for labeling the product as suitable for ages three and above to prevent similar choking incidents in younger children.
Expressing relief that Brody recovered, Bethany emphasized the need for clear age guidelines on food products, especially those that require chewing. Aldi expressed regret over the incident and stated that while their packaging complies with regulations, they would consider Bethany’s feedback for potential changes. The supermarket reached out to Bethany to address her concerns regarding the product’s packaging.
In response to the incident, an Aldi spokesperson conveyed sympathy for Ms. Holden’s experience and expressed gratitude for her son’s recovery. Acknowledging the feedback received, Aldi indicated a willingness to review the packaging of the product in question. The Mirror has contacted Aldi for further comments on the matter.
