I did a little bit of digging for my own curiosity and read a little bit and found something that I think may be the source of where they're getting their info. The guide is intended for infants under 12 months of age that participate in the Food Program.
"Warning About Vegetables and Fruits That May Cause Choking
Due to the risk of choking, do not feed babies the following
vegetables and fruits:
•
Raw vegetables (including green peas, string beans, celery, carrot, etc.);
•
Cooked or raw whole corn kernels;
•
Whole pieces of canned fruit;
•
Hard pieces of raw fruit such as apple, pear, melon;
•
Whole grapes, berries, cherries, melon balls, or cherry and grape tomatoes (cut these foods into quarters, with pits removed, before feeding to older babies); and
• Uncooked dried fruit (including raisins)."
So even though the recommendation is not to serve them raw, hard or whole they say to cut into quarters. Maybe you can show this to your sponsor/analyst.
Team Nutrition USDA Feeding Infants: A Guide for Use
in the Child Nutrition Programs
Page 50
Here is everything that talks about food in relation to choking in the same guide:
"... Peanut butter, other nut or seed butters, nuts, and seeds should not be fed to babies and are not reimbursable as meal components in the Infant Meal Pattern. These foods cause choking and may cause an allergic reaction in some babies." - page 51
"“Baby food” meat sticks (which look like miniature hot dogs)—these are not reimbursable because, by the manufacturer’s declaration, they are designed to match the skills of children over 12 months of age. Hot dogs or similarly shaped products are not recommended for babies because they can cause choking, even when cut into round slices." page 52
"Cheese may be introduced to infants 8 months or older. Small thin slices or strips of cheese are easier and safer. Do not feed chunks of cheese, which can cause choking." - page 53
"Modify the texture of cooked dry beans and dry peas for a baby (cooked whole beans or peas could cause choking)." - page 53
"Only serve bread or crackers if the parent, in consultation with the baby’s doctor, agrees for them to be served and after they have previously been introduced to the baby with no problems. If any of the above foods are served, prepare them in a form that a baby can eat without choking." - page 54
"AVOID
Do not feed babies these foods, which present a choking risk:
• Snack potato or corn chips, pretzels, or cheese twists,
• Cookies or granola bars,
• Crackers or breads with seeds, nut pieces, or whole grain kernels such as wheat berries, and
• Whole kernels of cooked rice, barley, or wheat; these should be finely ground or mashed before feeding to babies."
- Page 54
"Do Not Feed Babies These Foods:
.... Hard pieces of raw vegetable or raw fruit—they can cause choking and be difficult to digest.
.... Peanut butter and other nut and seed butters (e.g., soy nut, almond, cashew, or sunflower seed butter) and nuts and seeds. These foods can cause choking and may cause allergic reactions in some babies." - page 57
"Foods to Avoid That Can Cause Choking
• tough meat or large chunks of meat,
• peanuts or other nuts and seeds (such as pumpkin or
sunflower),
• peanut butter or other nut or seed butters,
• candy (e.g., hard candy, jelly beans, caramels, chewing gum),
• popcorn,
• hot dogs, sausages, or toddler hot dogs (even when cut into round slices),
• potato and corn chips and similar snack foods,
• pretzels,
• chunks of cheese,
Nothing in the guide said that you couldn't serve the foods, just that you had to cook it, cut it into quarters no bigger than 1/4" or mash it.