Over 8 Million Laundry Detergent Pods Recalled

Procter & Gamble recalled 8.2 million defective bags of laundry detergent pods from four of its brands because the film bags can split open along the zipper, posing a “risk of serious injury” to children and other vulnerable populations, according to a statement from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

If the contents of the laundry pods are ingested or come in contact with the skin or eyes, serious injury can occur, the agency said. Additionally, consuming a large amount of any product used to remove dirt, grease or other stains can cause death, especially among people with underlying health issues, the notice added.

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Although there have been no cases directly related to the recalled packaging, there have been four reports of children accessing the liquid in the laundry packets, including three who ate the pods during the time period the recalled products were sold. However, it is not known if the detergent was from the recalled bags.

“We’re sorry you experienced an issue with our bag packaging. The quality of our products and packaging is important to us to ensure you have the best experience possible,” Procter & Gamble said in a statement, adding that a “limited number” of bags have the manufacturing issue.

The recalled laundry detergent pods

The affected products include certain lots of Tide Pods, Gain Flings, Ace Pods and Ariel Pods sold in flexible film bags between September 2023 and February 2024, containing 12 to 39 packets each. They include:

• Gain Flings:  Original, Moonlight Breeze Scent, Blissful Breeze Scent, Spring Daydream Scent, Plus Ultra Oxi and Plus Odor Defense.
• Tide Pods: Original, Spring Meadow Scent, Pods Light, Simply Oxi Boost, Clean Breeze Scent, and Free and Gentle
• Ace Pods: Clean Breeze, Spring Meadow
• Ariel Pods: Alpine Breeze

They were sold at Big Lots, CVS, Family Dollar, Home Depot, Sam’s Club, Target, Walmart, and other major stores nationwide as well as online through Amazon and other websites for between $5 and $30.

Advice to consumers

Consumers should move the recalled the bags out of sight and reach of children and contact Procter & Gamble for a full refund and a free child-resistant bag to store the products. An option to receive a cabinet lock for securing laundry materials is also available.

To check if a laundry detergent pod bag is affected by the recall, look for the lot code on the bottom of the package. The recalled lot codes will be listed at pg.com/bags. Consumers who have a recalled bag should submit a photo of the recalled lot code printed on it.

For other questions regarding this recall, consumers may contact Procter & Gamble Monday through Friday at 833-347-5764 or online at pg.com/bags.