Tide Pods
 Logo of the Tide brand | |
| Product type | laundry detergent pod |
|---|---|
| Owner | Procter & Gamble |
| Country | United States |
| Introduced | 2012 |
| Related brands | Tide & Ariel |
| Markets | International (but not worldwide). |
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Tide Pods (stylized Tide PODS) are a line of laundry detergent pods from Procter & Gamble under the Tide brand. The pods gained notoriety starting in 2017 when social media sites began to show people intentionally eating them.[1]
History
Procter & Gamble originally created laundry pods when they launched Salvo powder detergent tablets, later disappearing from the market in 1978.[2]
In 2012, Procter & Gamble launched Tide Pods.[3]
Consumption
Concern has been raised over children accidentally consuming Tide Pods, as its appearance and the packaging design can have the same appeal to a child as hard candy with patterned designs, and be confused as such.[4]
In 2012, in response to a child swallowing Tide Pods, Procter & Gamble said they would make this product more difficult to open by adding a double latch to the lid, and has also re-focused their advertising to make clear the product should be out of a child's reach at all times. The packaging was also changed to an opaque orange rather than the original clear plastic gumball machine-type presentation to make them look less enticing.[5]
Ingestion of pods can lead to death in some cases.[6]
"Tide Pod Challenge"
Beginning in late 2017 a viral Internet trend, called the "Tide Pod Challenge", emerged on Twitter and various other social media websites, in which participants intentionally ingest detergent pods.[1] Several children and teens have been injured, some severely, from this intentional consumption.[7] The challenge (and subsequent meme) were popularized on Twitter and several people have eaten Tide Pods on camera.[8] One company began making edible replica "pods" and several internet personalities have posted about making edible "Tide Pods".[9]
Tide later partnered with American football player Rob Gronkowski, having him issue the message: "What the heck is going on, people? Use Tide Pods for washing. Not eating. Do not eat."[10]
References
- ^ a b Kircher, Madison Malone (December 28, 2017). "Please Don't Eat a Tide Pod, No Matter What the Memes Say". Select All. New York. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
- ^ https://www.deseret.com/platform/amp/2000/7/27/19520326/unilever-airs-plans-to-introduce-laundry-detergent-in-tablet-form
- ^ "Laundry detergent pods remain a health hazard". Consumer Reports. March 2013. Archived from the original on 12 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ^ Jaslow, Ryan (19 October 2012). "CDC warns laundry detergent pods pose health risk". CBS News. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
- ^ Wohl, Jessica (25 May 2012). "Tide to change Pods lid over child safety concerns". Reuters. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ^ "What Eating a Laundry Pod Can Do to You". Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- ^ Carroll, Linda. "Coma, deaths: More children harmed by eating laundry pods". TODAY.com. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
- ^ "FACT CHECK: Is the 'Tide Pod Challenge' a Real Thing?". 12 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- ^ Colburn, Randall. "People have resorted to making edible Tide laundry pods to stop you from eating the real ones". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
- ^ Tsuji, Alysha (January 12, 2018). "Rob Gronkowski tells everyone not to eat Tide Pods". USA Today. Retrieved January 13, 2018.