Simotas to P&G: Change the Tide Pods

Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas is among many state lawmakers who called on Procter & Gamble to change the liquid detergent “Tide Pods” in the wake of the dangerous “Tide Pod Challenge.”

The viral challenge has resulted in injuries and deaths when teenagers eat the small pods that are “packaged like candy.”

According to Simotas and State Senator Brad Hoylman, there were more than 10,000 poisoning incidents involving young children in 2017.

The lawmakers want P&G to implement the following:

• Child-resistant wrappers for Tide Pods
• Clear warning labels on the packets
• Uniform colors to make the packets less visually appealing.

“As a legislator and a mother, I am angry that convenience and marketing have been exalted over the safety of children and people with dementia,” Simotas said. “Even though the industry has adopted voluntary standards, they are not working and it’s now clear why we need a law to lessen the risk of poisonings.”