Nov. 21 US: Single-Load Liquid Laundry Packets: Harmful to Children

This notice is brought to you by the Consumer Product Safety Commission CPSC. CPSC may decide someday to do something about this in a regulatory manner.  While the alert does not include solid Pods, you can see how consumers may extend this alert to those Pods and create a liability issue for companies.

Children who are exposed to the chemicals in single-load liquid laundry packets are at risk of serious injury.  Some of the chemicals in these laundry packets are toxic. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is advising parents and caregivers to lock up these laundry packets and keep them away from children.

Liquid laundry packets are attractive to children as play items because they are soft and colorful and they resemble familiar items like candy, toys and teething products. In 2012 alone, CPSC staff has learned of about 500 incidents involving children and adults who were injured by the product.  Children have required hospitalization from ingesting the product due to loss of consciousness, excessive vomiting, drowsiness, throat swelling, and difficulty breathing (requiring intubation).  Eye contact with detergent from ruptured packets has also resulted in medical treatment for severe irritation and temporary vision loss due to ocular burns.

Because these packets dissolve quickly and release highly concentrated toxic chemicals when contacted with water, wet hands, or saliva, consumers are strongly urged to always handle laundry packets carefully and with dry hands.