As sales of laundry detergent pods rise, so do risks

If you're a parent who uses laundry pods, share your story

Published: May 15, 2014 04:15 PM

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Laundry Detergents

Sales of laundry detergent pods have climbed steadily since they went mainstream in early 2012. But so have the number of pod-related exposures to children age 5 or younger. So far in 2014, poison control centers have received nearly 3,500 calls concerning children who came in contact with the single-load packets. And the highly-concentrated detergents can cause severe symptoms, including excessive vomiting, lethargy, and gasping. In some cases, victims stopped breathing and required ventilation support.

Consumer Reports has called on all manufacturers to develop adequate child-safe packaging and prominent warning labels. Companies should also explore other safety measures, including changing the color of the pods to make them less appealing or coating them with a foul-tasting material.

We want to hear from consumers themselves, especially those with young children, who use laundry detergent pods. Please share your thoughts by filling out the questionnaire below.

—Daniel DiClerico (@dandiclerico)