Unit Dose Format Under Fire

The unit dose laundry pack format is in hot water. An article in The Wall Street Journal noted that at least seven people have died after biting into unit dose packets since their introduction, including four last year and one earlier this year. So far in 2015, the accidental ingestion incidents by children under six have been reported to US poison centers at a rate of 30 a day, down from 32 a day in 2014.

In a statement, the American Cleaning Institute noted that the manufacturers of liquid laundry detergent packets are very committed to reducing the number of accidents with these products. Manufacturers have already made major changes to their packaging including the addition of easy-to-understand safety icons, improving warning labels to advise proper use and storage instructions, and changing to opaque packaging so the laundry packets are not visible from the outside.

In addition, ACI and its detergent manufacturer members are actively engaged in a process, administered by the standard-setting group ASTM International, to enhance and standardize laundry packet labeling and packaging. That group just met again today in Washington.

Furthermore, ACI and its member companies have directly engaged parents and caregivers, as well as stakeholders, government agencies, poison control centers, pediatricians and other medical professionals, alerting them to the potential for childhood accidents if these products are not properly stored, according to an Institute spokesman.

“These outreach efforts intensify as we continue with our multi-year consumer laundry safety program – known as the KEY Pledge – to prevent accidents by educating parents and caregivers about the safe handling of liquid laundry packets,” said Brian Sansoni, VP-sustainability initiatives and communication & membership, ACI. “These laundry safety messages have reached millions of consumers with safety videos, partner engagement, information tools, and an on-line pledge process that has generated a groundswell of support for sharing prevention messages through the news media and outreach via social media and mommy bloggers.”

Procter & Gamble controls more than 70% of the fast-growing unit dose segment in the US, thanks to the succes of Tide and Gain Pods.

Sansoni said that ACI will continue working to reach as many parents and caregivers as possible, reminding them of the importance to keep laundry packets away from children, which is true of other household cleaners as well. No matter what type of detergent a parent or caregiver uses, it should be stored out of reach and out of sight of children.