Are FPCIs a Source of Increased Risk for Children? Results of a Multicenter, Experimental Study Comparing Children's Behaviour with FPCIs and Toys

Abstract Objective: FPCIs are a very appreciated source of play for children, therefore it is important to collect experimental data regarding risks possibly associated to their consume. A previous experimental study carried out during 2002 in Italy by Benelli B. et al. with 48 children and published in the International Congress Series 2668 (2003) pointed out that FPCIs do not represent a higher risk of accidental ingestion (and possible chocking) when compared to toys alone. The present study is a replica, performed in two different European countries: Spain and Sweden. The aim is to have an international sample of children belonging to different social and cultural realities, in order to reach more general and reliable conclusions. Method: In Italy and Spain, children’s ability to recognize the “double nature” of the products was analysed (Aim 1) and manipulation-play approach, in particular mouthing activity, displayed in two different settings (FPCIs session and Simple toys session) was compared (Aim 2). In Sweden, as FPCIs are less known and present on the market, focus was on children with minimal prior experience of FPCIs and the influence of familiarity on recognition of double nature was amalysed. 48 children aged 3-6 were tested in Italy, 64 children in Spain and 64 children in Sweden with 3 different FPCIs in a randomised cross over design. Results: 1) children show a good ability to recognize the “double nature” of the FPCIs products, especially of the more familiar ones; 2) children interact with toy contained in FPCIs in the same way as with toys alone. Conclusions: Our experimental data show that FPCIs do not exhibit a higher risk for accidental ingestion (and possible chocking) than toys not associated with food parts.