Defective packaging: Procter & Gamble recalls 8.2 million bags of laundry detergent.

More than 8 million bags of “Tide Pods” and Gain laundry detergent packets are being recalled in Canada and the United States due to a flaw in the products' safety packaging.

The packaging of the recalled products may be affected by a manufacturing defect. According to a Procter & Gamble (P&G) press release shared on Friday, this packaging limits access to the detergent capsules to children and others who may take them.

According to Health Canada experts, ingesting laundry detergent can cause nausea, vomiting, coughing, choking, respiratory problems and stomach upset. Contact with skin or eyes may also cause rashes, skin irritation and eye irritation. As of April 2, 2024, the Company has received no reports of incidents or injuries in Canada.

According to Health Canada experts, the strong resemblance of “Tide Pods” type detergent sachets to candy encourages children to ingest them. In 2018, the “Tide Pods Challenge” events, a challenge promoted by social networks that involved eating Tide Pods, killed eight people, including two children. This tragedy clearly illustrates the dangers associated with detergent use.

The affected products, branded Tide, Gain, Ace and Ariel, were sold from September 2023 to February 2024.

What to do with these products?

P&G recommends keeping the product out of sight and reach of children and contacting them as soon as possible. Affected consumers will receive a gift card, a cabinet lock and an empty replacement bag to hold the non-defective detergent capsules. You can contact Procter & Gamble by telephone at 1-833-347-5764, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (ET), Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (ET), Saturday, or online at tide.ca/ bags or ilovegain.com/bags (English) and tide.ca/sacs or jadoregain.ca/sacs (French)

Here is the list of products canceled by this recall:

– Gain Flings Moonlight Breeze; Bag of 16 capsules

– Tide Pods 3-in-1 Clean Breeze; Bag of 31 capsules

– Tide PODS 3-in-1, Spring Meadow; Bag of 31 capsules

– Tide PODS 4-in-1 with Ultra Oxy; Bag of 15 capsules

– Tide Simply PODS Oxi Boost + Ultra Stain Release, Refreshing Breeze; Bag of 13 capsules