Dangers of children eating detergent like it’s candy exist because single-load laundry detergent pods often look like candy, especially to children under the age of 6 years old. Even laundry detergent inside single-load pods that are not clear may be mistaken for candy, or at least hide something a naturally curious child would like to discover, taste, or swallow. Laundry detergent is nothing like candy and nobody should ever consider eating detergent.
Parents, Grandparents and anyone taking care of children need to be aware of the dangers of children eating detergent like it’s candy, and need to take precautions to prevent it from happening. Children can be seriously injured from eating detergent, and even more so when that detergent is a liquid detergent in a pod or small packet.
Single-load laundry detergents in pods (or small packets) are extremely dangerous if the pod is bitten into, and if the detergent is swallowed. Single-load laundry detergents are highly concentrated and when mixed with water dissolve rapidly. These detergents will also dissolve rapidly in a child’s mouth.
Injuries to Children Eating Detergent
The following injuries or problems may occur in a child who has bitten into a laundry pod are similar to injuries from other toxic cleaning products:
- Vomiting
- Serious burns to the esophagus
- Serious burns to the stomach
- Coughing and choking
- Struggling to breathe
- Lethargy and weakness
- Feeling sleepy
- Feeling nauseas
- The squirting contents of a bitten laundry detergent pod may damage or irritate a child’s eyes.
Timeline Facts about Detergent Pods and Children Eating Detergent
- 2010: Laundry detergent pods could be purchased in the U.S.
- 2012: Other manufacturers also start selling laundry detergent pods in the U.S.
- 2012: The American Association of Poison Control Centers and Poison experts at 55 poison centers draw attention to the dangers of single-load liquid detergent packets.
- 2012: More than 6 000 cases of single-load detergent pod liquid exposure to children under the age of 6 years old were reported to poison centers.
- September 2012: Consumer Reports requested that single-load laundry pod manufacturers make their product safer.
- 2013: Poison control centers received calls about more than 10 000 incidents of children under 6 being exposed to the liquid content of single-load detergent packets.
- 2014: Over 11 000 incidents were reported to poison control centers.
- 2015: Over 12 000 incidents were reported to poison control centers.
- 2015: Detergent Poisoning and Child Safety Act is proposed.
- 16 July 2015: Consumer Reports report that they no longer recommend laundry detergent pods, and even recommend that laundry detergent pods not be used at all in homes where there are children under the age of 6.
- 2016: Even though there are more warnings, and even though single-load laundry detergent pods or their packaging have been made safer by the manufacturers of them, incidents of children eating detergent like it’s candy continue to increase.
Speak to a Lawyer for Child Injuries – free consultation
Mark J. Leeds, who has received a Martindale-Hubbell AV rating, the highest rating an attorney can receive for legal ability and professional ethics, is always happy to sit down for a no obligation, free consultation with anyone suffering from injuries caused by the recklessness or negligence of another.
Call Mark for a free legal consultation now!
Phone # (Toll-Free): (888) 446-1999.
