In a New York Times article, Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital, pointed out that despite being as lethal as toys, food manufacturers don't face the same regulations.

Smith, the lead author of the AAP's policy, told the Times, "You have a SuperBall that by government regulation has to carry warnings telling people it's a risk to young children and you can't market it to them, yet you can have the same identical shape and size gumball, and there are no restrictions or requirements."

That was more than three years ago, yet nothing has changed. At the end of the day, the onus is on parents to recognize commonplace choking hazards. As tragic as choking deaths and injuries are, in many cases, they actually are preventable with a little bit of common sense and a whole lot of precaution.

Some general rules of thumb: Supervise children while they are eating. Prohibit kids from eating while they are running, playing or jumping around. Cut foods into smaller pieces. Get trained in CPR, the Heimlich and other first aid. And above everything else, familiarize yourself with the foods that put your children at risk. Here are some of the biggest offenders, according to experts.