Single Dose Laundry and Dishwasher Detergent Pod Capsules Pose Child Safety Risk
Single-dose laundry and dishwasher detergent capsules that look very similar to candy have been involved in around 10,000 cases of exposure with young children during the past year, according to The Wall Street Journal. The capsules are used in almost 10 percent of U.S. households and that number continually grows. There are several news stories available on YouTube.
Tide brought detergent pods to the market in 2012. Soon after, nearly 14,000 children came into serious contact with them. Safety experts have long been concerned about the risk detergents pose to children; according to the newspaper’s report, before the pods were introduced, roughly 6,500 children per year were exposed or accidentally swallowed detergent.
Though the detergent capsules do raise concern, only one fatality has been reported from the ingestion of one.
In 2012, the association warned of the risks of detergent pods and detailed safety precautions. Procter and Gamble issued a similar warning campaign that year, made the pods more difficult to open, and modified the pods to add larger warning labels, according to the report, adding that a spokesman from Procter and Gamble said the number of Tide pod safety incidents has been declining.
If you use laundry or dishwasher detergent pods in your home, please be sure to keep them out of reach of children. When used in your dishwasher, never place the pod in the dishwasher until the dishwasher is run to help reduce the risk of exposure. If your child is exposed to a detergent pod, immediately contact the American Association of Poison Control Centers.