(Reuters) – Procter & Gamble (NYSE:) is recalling 8.2 million defective bags of some of its detergent pods in the United States due to a packaging defect that could pose an injury risk to children, the Tide producer said Friday. The voluntary recall affected Tide Pods, Gain Flings, Ace Pods and Ariel Pods liquid laundry detergent packaged in flexible film pouches and manufactured between September 2023 and February 2024.
There have been three reported cases of children ingesting the contents of laundry packages, P&G said, adding that there have been no confirmed cases of accidents or injuries directly related to the packaging defect.
The risk was posed by the outer packaging of the bags which could open near the zipper, exposing children to the chemicals in these detergent containers.
Chemicals in laundry containers can cause seizures, coma, severe breathing problems, eye damage and burns.
The recall also affects approximately 56,741 units sold in Canada.
Laundry detergent pods were introduced to the U.S. market in 2012. The brightly colored all-in-one packages contain detergent that is released during washing, eliminating the need for users to measure detergent.
P&G had also previously been in the spotlight for safety issues related to detergent pods. In 2012, the company said it would add a safety lock to its detergent capsules after a child was hospitalized after swallowing the contents.