U.S. consumer safety regulators say 8.2 million packages of popular laundry detergent brands considered to be defective — including Ace, Gain, Tide and Ariel — were recalled due to the possibility of a serious injury risk, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a release on Friday.
In the massive product recall were brands like Tide Pods, Gain Flings, Ariel Pods and Ace Pods, which are all liquid laundry detergent packets that are made of "flexible film bags," the agency said.
In the outer packing, there is what is described as a zipper track which is meant to prevent access to the product inside. According to the recall, the packages can be split near the zipper track, exposing the detergent pods.
This poses a serious risk of injury to vulnerable populations, including children, USCPSC said.
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Possible injuries include skin and eye injuries, or the possibility that the product could be ingested. Safety regulators say that the ingestion of any significant quantity of a substance like a liquid detergent — which has components that help it spread out or absorb better, called a surfactant — can cause serious injury or even death to anyone with any underlying health issues.
Household cleaning products are often known to have these components.
Consumers are asked to take these products included in the recall back to the point of sale or contact the company using contact information on the package to request a refund. CPSC has more details about the recall and how to contact the company on their website.
Consumer safety officials urge anyone in possession of these products to immediately secure the products out of the sight and reach of children and to follow the steps to get a full refund or a free replacement with a new child-resistant bag.
USCPSC said there have been no confirmed reports of injuries or deaths related to these package defects so far. There have been at least four reports of children being able to access the liquid in the laundry packets. Products were sold at major stores nationwide including, Big Lots, CVS, Family Dollar, Home Depot, Sam's Club, Target and Walmart.
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