The introduction of hard-and-fast rules to cut the risk of toddlers choking on food at childcare centres has been delayed.
Officials began looking at whether to make the risk-reduction guidelines mandatory after a Rotorua family went public about their son, who choked in2016 and is now badly brain damaged.
The Education Ministry said it had expected to bring in changes before now, but the pandemic had delayed this to the second half of the year.
"We determined it wouldn't be right to introduce any new requirements while early learning services are responding to Covid-19," Deputy Secretary of Sector Enablement and Support Katrina Casey said.
It received 2500 submissions late last year on making compliance with Health Ministry guidance mandatory, which were independently reviewed.
The 2015 guidelines say high-risk foods include cut-up apple, which the Rotorua toddler Neihana Renata choked on.
Neihana Renata (far right), pictured with his parents and siblings, was left brain damaged after choking on a slice of apple at a childcare centre. Photo / Supplied
"Be aware of foods which are more likely to cause choking ... small hard foods that are difficult for children to bite or chew (eg, nuts, large seeds, popcorn husks, raw carrot, apple, celery," the guidelines said, adding that grating, cooking or finely chopping food can cut the risks.
