Laundry pods, pacs or flings – whatever you call them, there’s no denying that they’ve taken the detergent market by storm.
When they were first released, parents were advised to keep the pods out of homes with children under six – but soon after it was discovered that they weren’t the only population at risk.
According to a Consumer Reports article, there have been eight deaths related to eating liquid laundry pods between 2012 and 2017. Two were young children, and the other six were adults – all of whom suffered from dementia.
Consumer Reports states the reason laundry pods seem appealing is because they bear a striking resemblance to bite-size pieces of candy. The shiny, bright colors and pleasant smell can be deceiving to young children and adults with dementia.
Dr. Gregory S. Day, a neurologist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, told Consumer Reports another symptom of dementia in some adults is the desire to put things in their mouth.
“The reasons for these behaviors are not entirely known,” he said.
Day believes this likely reflects a tendency in adults with dementia to return to child- or baby-like behaviors.
Some suggest the solution is for manufactures to go back to the drawing board and redesign the pods not to look like candy.
Consumer Reports says six out of the eight deaths were from pods made by Proctor & Gamble. Its Tide Pods alone account for 79 percent of the market.
P&G’s Elizabeth Kinney, senior communications manager for North America, told Consumer Reports, “We are aware of accidental ingestions related to our liquid laundry pacs among adults with previously diagnosed dementia. We are deeply saddened by this and have taken action to understand and help prevent these types of incidents.”
Laundry pacs are designed to be convenient. They contain a highly-concentrated detergent formula in a dissolvable casing that’s easy to just toss in the wash.
The high concentration of formula poses a greater risk than normal detergent.
The American Association for Poison Control Centers reported to Consumer Reports that 55 percent of laundry detergent-related calls involved laundry pods, compared to 29 percent for liquid detergent in a bottle.
The report also showed that more people needed medical attention when exposed to pods than those exposed to liquid detergents.
Some containers now have safety features that would make it more difficult for children or adults with dementia to get them open. In addition, manufactures have started packaging the pods in opaque containers, rather than clear ones, so children and adults with dementia can’t see the candy-like shapes inside.
Manufacturers have also agreed to coat their laundry pods in a bitter-tasting substance that also makes them more difficult to burst and causes them to dissolve more slowly.
Consumer Reports has several tips to keep your children or loved ones with dementia safe from products like these.
- You can remove the pods and any other non-edible items that resemble food from your home all together, or chose products that are non-toxic and in containers with latches.
- Store cleaning products in a separate location than food.
- Keep close watch of your loved one’s habits. If you notice they like to put things in their mouths or are showing an increased interest in it, remove toxic and choking hazards from your home.
- Keep all products in their original packaging with labeling, and avoid placing them in generic, unlabeled or see-through containers.
