The Laundry Pod: Children, Seniors Now Teenagers At Risk

Laundry pods are very convenient and very popular. Laundry pods also contain an inherent risk due to their design to young children and seniors. Data has continued to be compiled to reveal the danger of laundry pods for children particularly under the age of six years old. Since this information first began to receive attention in 2015  a few things have changed regarding the manufacturers addressing the safety concerns of laundry pods in the home including voluntary product modifications and guidelines.

Laundry pods can and have posed a significant risk to children and seniors when ingested.  At least eight deaths have been attributed to the ingestion of laundry pods since laundry pods became available in 2012. However, accidental exposure and ingestion of laundry pods remain high on the list of visits to emergency centers throughout the United States including a dramatic growth in eye burns for preschoolers.

2018 Brings The Tide Pod Challenge

Unfortunately 2018 began with a dramatic increase of visits to emergency rooms for intentional exposures according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers amongst 13- 19 year olds attributed to The Tide Pod Challenge  in which individuals bite into a laundry pod or put a laundry pod into their mouth a with some individuals posting the dare on social media.

In response to the serious health dangers of ingesting a laundry pod, Tide made the following public service announcement with Rob Gronkowski:

What should Tide PODs be used for? DOING LAUNDRY. Nothing else.

Eating a Tide POD is a BAD IDEA, and we asked our friend @robgronkowski to help explain. pic.twitter.com/0JnFdhnsWZ

— Tide (@tide) January 12, 2018

In 2014 the American Association of Poison Control Centers reported 4,110 people sought treatment due to laundry pods and 59 people became critically ill; more than 10,000 cases were reported in 2017. Children under six years old and younger are the most attracted to laundry pods; one and two year olds are at greatest risk for accidental ingestion of the laundry pod.

Tide has now produced videos on childproofing a home. The Laundry Pod is included amongst household items and situations to childproof a home. The video is at the end of this post.

Why Are Laundry Detergent Pods More Dangerous Than Detergent?

This is a question experts continue to study and have been unable to arrive at  a solid explanation. Historically children have ingested loose laundry detergent which usually elicits mild digestive symptoms; however the composition of the detergent pods can cause much more serious injuries for some children and seniors.

Alleged injuries from biting into a laundry detergent pod include:

• severe vomiting and digestive symptoms
• compromise of the central nervous system
• chemical burns to the eye
• ventilator therapy required after ingestion
• children become drowsy after ingestion

Experts remain stymied as to why detergent concentrated in the pod form is posing a significant health risk when ingested. The experts continue to theorize that the design of the pod is inherently dangerous, the high concentration of liquid in the pod, the force of the pod bursting may be the cause,  but have not yet arrived at a conclusion. The pods with liquid cause many more medical problems than the pods with granules according data published in the Pediatrics journal.

Update March 2018:

Legislators in New York have introduced a bill requiring the design of laundry pods be modified in color and opaque design to discourage ingestion particularly by children. Intentional ingestion of laundry pods is difficult to prevent, but the health consequences can be very serious or dire. The Tide Pod Challenge has been attributed to the spike of intentional ingestion statistics at American Association of Poison Control Centers.

A study published in the online journal JAMA Ophthalmology identified an increase in eye burns due to laundry pods and children. Eye burns in 2012 were reported at 20 increasing to 500 burns were reported in 2015 for preschoolers. Voluntary safety product modifications by the manufacturers were instituted with guidelines from the American Cleaning Institute (ACI.) ACI states the majority of manufacturers changed their packaging by the end of 2016 and the study was performed prior the the packaging changes.

Laundry Pods Attract Patients With Dementia

The multi colored laundry pods have also been attributed to the deaths to two senior dementia patients and the contributing factor in the death of a third dementia patient.  It is theorized that for the same reason laundry pods are attractive to children, the pods are attractive to dementia patients due to the pods resemblance to candy. Product liability lawsuits for children, adults and the elderly are currently working their way through the courts.

Europe Takes Lead Regulating The Laundry Pod

The European Commission has already taken the lead in regulating laundry pods. Effective June 1, 2015 regulations to warn consumers of the risks and modification of the pods became effective.  Manufacturers of laundry pods are required to:

• Adding a taste to the outside of the pods which is  “an aversive agent in a concentration which is safe, and which elicits oral repulsive behavior, within a maximum time of six seconds, in case of accidental oral exposure.”
• Each pod will be have an outer wrapping marked with warnings
• Each pod must pass a strength test and retain its’ contents for a minimum of 30 seconds when placed in 68 degree F water.

How To Use Laundry Pods

Proctor & Gamble (Tide Pods, Gain Flings), Sun Products (All Mighty Pacs) and Cot’n Wash (Dropps brand) have now stated they will add a bitter tasting coating to deter biting into the pod. P & G has partnered with Safe Kids Worldwide and advises the following when  laundry pods are purchased:

• Keep liquid laundry packets out of children’s reach and sight.
• Keep packets in their original container and keep the container closed.
• If a child gets into them, call the Poison Help number immediately, 1-800-222-1222.

Updated Stats 2016

In April 2016 data released from the journal Pediatrics stated:

• Poison center calls received 17% more calls from 2013 to 2014.
• Children under the age of 3 remain at the greatest risk.
• Laundry pods containing liquid pose a greater risk than pods containing granules.
• Calls to poison centers regarding ingestion of dishwasher packets also increased.

https://youtu.be/LtWSpGbh7AI