A medical instrument and procedure for removing a food mass lodged in the esophagus of a patient. First, the food mass is magnetized. Thereafter, a medical instrument that includes a magnetic retriever is inserted into an endoscope, for example, into the esophagus. The magnetic retriever includes a magnet that applies a drawing force to the lodged magnetized food mass, causing the magnetized food mass to become dislodged. Once dislodged, the food mass is retrieved and removed from the esophagus.
