New Orleans: No cabbage hurling? Parade injuries prompt call for restrictions

Next year's St. Patrick's and Irish-Italian parades in Metairie could bring a reduced risk of being smacked in the head with a cabbage. The edibles could still be airborne, but float riders would be required to soften their touch in throwing them.

A proposal coming before the Jefferson Parish Council on Wednesday (Nov. 3) would require that all "fruit, vegetables, soap and other non-perishable food items" be tossed underhand at the parades. The reason: Too many people were getting hurt by flying food, said Sean Burke, the administration's director of citizen affairs. He recalled two incidents that led to a broken nose and a broken finger in the past few years. And someone was hurling cabbages in 2015 with a lacrosse stick, Burke said.

"We're having to crack down because what is happening is there are a number of people that are getting injured from not paying attention or not looking, and getting hit with a cabbage," Burke said. While a variety of produce is thrown at the parades, "mainly cabbage is the one that does the most damage," he said.

"You get all kinds of stuff," Burke said. "We get carrots, potatoes, bananas, oranges, apples. You name it, they've got it out there. Ramen noodles, even Irish Spring soap."

Read the rest at: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/11/cabbage_st_patricks_parade_jef.html