Tide Pods Are Placing Children at Risk
Tide pods are part of the latest trend in laundry detergent. The tiny pods are filled with brightly colored, highly concentrated liquid detergents that effectively clean clothes without the need to measure, pour, or spill detergent from bulky, heavy, traditional bottles and boxes. Cleanliness and convenience make Tide pods attractive to adults. But their small size and bright colors make them attractive and extremely dangerous to children.
Since their release in 2012, the amount of children handling and ingesting Tide pods has steadily increased. Their “candy-like” appearance causes children to be drawn to them and to want to eat them. Product manufacturers have made only minor attempts to solve this problem. More complicated outer packaging that is more difficult to open is emerging on store shelves, but absolutely nothing has been done to address the real issue: the design of the pods themselves.
What Threat Do Tide Pods Pose to Children?
Due to the higher concentration of chemicals in the tiny pod package, the liquid detergent found in Tide pods is much more poisonous than traditional laundry detergent. Seizures, coma, choking, and pulmonary edema are serious side effects that result from swallowing the Tide pod detergent. The product is cased in a thin, easily dissolved film that can cause the detergent to splatter onto the skin or eyes if the pod is bitten into. Damage to children’s eyes, such as corneal abrasion and ocular burns have occurred.
The curious nature of young children makes them more likely to seek out and to want to handle Tide pods. The natural instinct for infants and toddlers to put everything in their mouth makes them more likely to ingest a Tide pod. Calls to poison control show that children three years old and younger are the most likely to experience Tide pod poisoning. The small size of these children also makes the symptoms more serious.
The dangerous and even deadly potential of Tide pods makes them a defective product that is manufactured negligently by Procter & Gamble. Product liability lawsuits help send the message from consumers to manufacturers that a change is both desired and necessary. It is unacceptable for Procter & Gamble to continue to place innocent children at risk.
Changes can easily be made to alter the look of Tide pods without any affect on the function of the product. Designing Tide pods without the unnecessary bright colors and in a less attractive and larger size will reduce the likelihood that children will be interested in them. Incorporating a bitter taste factor to the dissolving outer film will also discourage children from trying to swallow them.
If a child you love has suffered serious side medical problems as a result of handling or ingesting a Tide pod, filing a Wisconsin laundry detergent pod lawsuit with the help of an attorney at Urban & Taylor, S.C. can both send a message to Procter & Gamble that change is needed and recover the financial compensation you need to pay for medical treatment. Contact our experienced legal team today for a free, zero-obligation consultation of your case.
