- Detergent pods pose a serious risk if eaten and can cause eye damage
- The packages must be designed in such a way that children cannot open them
- Manufacturer Procter & Gamble has recalled 17 products from four major brands
Laundry detergent pods from major brands including Tide and Ace have been urgently recalled amid safety fears.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled 8.2 million defective packages sold at popular stores such as CVS, Family Dollar, Target and Walmart.
The watchdog said the detergent capsules are sold in flexible foil bags that split open at the zip, allowing children to access the contents.
It has received four reports of children in the US stepping into the bags – three of which reported swallowing a detergent capsule.
The zipper is intended to ensure that children cannot access the pods, which are poisonous to eat and can also cause injury to the skin and eyes.
Laundry detergent pods from major brands including Tide and Ace have been urgently recalled amid safety fears
The recall includes certain lot codes of 17 variants of Tide Pods, Gain Flings, Ace Pods and Ariel Pods liquid detergent packets.
It only applies to bags distributed in the US and manufactured between September 2023 and February 2024.
The watchdog said consumers should immediately store the recalled bags out of the sight and reach of children and contact manufacturer Procter & Gamble for a full refund and a free replacement, child-resistant bag to store the product.
Consumers can check if their bag is part of the recall by checking the lot code on the packaging.
Recalled lot codes are listed here and can be found on the bottom of the package.
Consumers with recalled bags can submit a photo of the recalled product with the lot code to participate in the recall.
The bags were also available for purchase at Big Lots, Home Depot, Sam’s Club and online at Amazon.
The four incidents reported to the watchdog occurred during the period when the recalled lots were on sale, but it is not known whether the laundry packages came from recalled bags.
The recall includes certain lot codes of variants of Gain Flings and Ace Pods
The recall applies to certain Ariel laundry detergent manufactured between September 2023 and February 2024
It comes after concerns were raised about a social media craze that led teenagers to eat detergent pods.
Doctors warned people not to take part in the potentially fatal ‘Tide Pod Challenge’, in which teenagers filmed themselves chewing and gagging on colorful detergent pods and then challenged others to take part.
They warned that the pods contain ethanol, polymers and hydrogen peroxide and are extremely toxic.
