8.2 Million ‘Defective’ Laundry Pods Recalled Nationwide

If you’re a fan of the no-mess convenience that liquid laundry detergent pods provide, check on any purchases you made after September 2023 for a potentially dangerous defect.

In coordination with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC), on April 5, 2024 manufacturer Procter & Gamble announced a voluntarily recall of “8.2 million defective bags of Tide, Gain, Ace and Ariel laundry detergent packets distributed in US due to risk of serious injury.” The recall announcement states that 56,741 units were sold in Canada.

Procter & Gamble states that there’s an issue with the outer plastic containers that hold the recalled laundry pods, which were manufactured between September 2023 and February 2024. P&G states that the bags cannot close completely or may “split open near the zipper track” due to a manufacturing issue. This leaves the pods accessible to children, who may play with or ingest them and could also result in potential skin irritation or eye injuries for others. These types of pods have long led to emergency medical visits due to children ingesting them or the contents spilling onto the skin or into the eyes. They must always be stored in sealed outer packaging and away from children or pets.

No injuries have been reported directly connected to this recall. However, the announcement reveals that there have been four reports children accessing liquid detergent pods, three of which involved ingestion, during the time that the recalled pods were sold. The CSPC cannot confirm whether these incidents are linked to the recalled products. Nevertheless, this underscores the need to keep all potentially dangerous chemicals out of reach of children at all times and inspect packages for potential defects.

The affected pods were sold at various retailers, both in-store and online, in packages containing 12 to 39 laundry detergent packets each. While  are among the outlets that sold the pods, this is not an exhaustive list. If you purchased detergent pods after September 2023, check your packaging for the lot codes listed at pg.com/bags. They can be found at the bottom of the packages or on the outside of the box if purchased at a club or wholesale location.

Those who have these products at home are urged to immediately store them out of reach of children. Procter & Gamble suggests transferring them from the bags to Tide PODS or Gain Flings tubs that have a child-resistant closure. The company will provide these containers to customers through its Consumer Care Team. Customers who bought the recalled pods can also receive a refund in the form of a prepaid debit card, a replacement bag, and a cabinet latch to keep all laundry items secure. To begin the refund process, visit the P&G recall page with your product barcode and a photo of the lot code handy.

Recalled Laundry Detergent Pods by Procter & Gamble on April 5, 2024:

Tide

Tide Pods Original

Tide Pods Spring Meadow Scent

Tide Simply Pods Plus Oxi Boost

Tide Pods Clean Breeze Scent

Tide Pods Free & Gentle

Tide Pods Oxi

Tide Pods Ultra Oxi

Tide Pods Light

via cpsc.gov

Gain

Gain Flings Original

Gain Flings Moonlight Breeze Scent

Gain Flings Blissful Breeze Scent

Gain Flings Spring Daydream Scent

Gain Flings Plus Ultra Oxi

Gain Flings Plus Odor Defense

via cpsc.gov

Ace

Ace Pods Clean Breeze

Ace Pods Spring Meadow

via cpsc.gov

Ariel

Ariel Pods Alpine Breeze

via cpsc.gov

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