Dd has just eaten part of a plastic fork - will it pass through?

[albatros]

Dd was using a plastic fork and knife in a cafe half way through her meal I noticed that 1/2 a prong was missing I searched her plate and couldn't find it, I think she has probably eaten it. I spoke to staff about this and the manager should be calling me back. Will it pass through her? if not what do I do next, what symptoms do I look out for and how strongly should I kick up a fuss at the cafe?. The assistant said they use hunbdreds of sets a week and have never had this happen before.

How old is she? I would imagine it would pass through OK if t's only half a prong but you could phone NHS direct ans see what they say.

Personally, I don't think the cafe is at fault if your child has snapped off a piece of plastic cutlery. I assume the cutlery is new for each customer?

Do you know for sure that the fork was intact before she started? Could it have been broken/faulty already?

yeah phone YTS direct

Very annoyed at the assistant's comments, it is not the issue that it hasn't happened before - it happened to you and you. It's such a lazy, shoddy retort.

The fork was intact before she started eating, the cutlery was very flimsy and I had to cut her food up as the knife kept bending. The cafe cafe may well not be at fault but surley their cutlery should be suitable for all age ranges as it is the only cutlery avilable Dd is 5, and for once was not messing around but eating nicely as she was promised a doughnut if she ate it all up nicely.

I think she would have noticed swallowing it at 5 wouldn't she?

Agree tht the cutlery should be suitable, yes.

Would have tought at 5 the piece should pass through Ok though. How long is a prong?

It's about 1 cm length that is missing

1cm in a 5YO I wouldn't be too concerned about (but I'm not a worrier IYSWIM) Especially if she didn't notice swallowing it. I'd be on the look out for tummy aches etc over the next few days though. Not sure I could stomach checking to see if it reappeared though...

I have spoken to NHS direct they class it as a sharp object and have told me to take her to A +E for an X-Ray

bl**dy NHS direct I have just spent the last 2 hours at A + E only to be told they cannot x ray for plastic and after they had felt her tummy said there was nothing they could do, I need to keep an eye on her for the next 2 weeks and if she has any pain take her back.
I have previously advised people on here not to use NHS direct and to go to their Dr or A & E I should head my own advice

heed not head

I checked poo when I thought ds2 had eaten a piece of Bionicle - but he was still in nappies so it was easier.

I think she'll be fine - just keep an eye on her.

Oh what a waste of time, albatros!

The cafe didn't call me back either, I know it is one of those things that can happen and I wasn't to worried at the time. However as they could not be bothered to ring and offer an appolgy and now I know the possible implications of her eating it I am livid and I will be contacting head office on Monday

I've calmed down a bit now and am wondering if I am over reacting about their flimsy cutlery. The cafe is a very large chain,
(I've just looked on their website and they claim to be 'reducing the impact of their business on the enviroment, cutting waste etc' plastic disposable cutlery can not be as enviromentally friendly as metal surely.)

Do you wise ones on MN think I should kick up a fuss about the incident, requesting that they have more substanstial cutlery for kids, maybe even contacting enviromental health or which ever deptament would look into this, or should I put it down to experience and allow her in future to use her preferred choice of eating with her hands if I ever come across plastic cutlery again.

Message withdrawn

I don't have any medical knowledge would it have got stuck / gagged on this size it is about 1cm long but only 2-3mm wide

albatros personally I would not kick up a fuss but pass it off as one of those things.

It will likely pass through her and do no harm at all.the human gut is incredibly efficient at expelling stuff

I am sure kids swallow small non food items often, and we usually know nothing about it.

can't believe NHS direct told you to get an x-ray for a plastic item!

Message withdrawn

dd2 cleanly swallowed a small ceramic pig, size of a marble. Did her no harm (apart from the mental torture of thinking she was going to die for 10 minutes till we calmed her down and pointed out she was breathing perfectly normally). Passed through I presume.

So I reckon a 5 year old could quite easily have swallowed a bit of plastic prong.

I wouldn't cause a fuss but you could write and suggest they look into sturdier plastic cutlery.

I spoke to Head Office on Monday and told them about the incident. They have just called me back to say that from tomorrow all plastic cutlery will be withdrawn from their cafes, as they agree it is a potential hazzard. I am very impressed by their quick reaction to this and pleased they are concerned about the potential danger.
Dd still has shown no signs of pain etc so if she did eat it hopefully it will pass through.

BTW they have over 200 outlets accros the country so this is quite a undertaking on their part

What a great response from them!

Glad your DD is Ok.

I really didn't expect them to withdraw it after one complaint but really pleased they have.