According to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics, detergent packets – which often come in flashy, candy-like colors and designs – can pose a serious poisoning risk to young children; between 2012 and 2013, over 17,000 children were exposed to these packets nationwide; P&G is launching a new safety campaign this week and will be updating its Tide Pods package with a new Child-Guard zipper beginning next month 

Last year, Klobuchar called on the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ensure that strong protections are in place to prevent poisoning and supported legislation to protect children from the health risks posed by detergent packets 

WASHINGTON, DC – After efforts from Klobuchar to prevent child poisoning, Procter and Gamble (P&G) announced this week new efforts to help safeguard children from accidents with detergent laundry pods. According to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics, detergent packets – which often come in flashy, candy-like colors and designs – can pose a serious poisoning risk to young children. Between 2012 and 2013, over 17,000 children were exposed to these packets nationwide. Procter and Gamble is launching a new safety campaign and will be updating its Tide Pods package with a new Child-Guard zipper beginning in May. Last year, Klobuchar called on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to ensure that strong protections are in place to prevent poisoning and supported legislation to protect children from the health risks posed by detergent packets.

“Detergent packets are a big convenience and time-saver for families, but the flashy, bite-sized packets may look like candy to young children and can cause serious physical harm when swallowed,” Klobuchar said.  “I am encouraged to see that Procter and Gamble is taking these safety concerns seriously and is taking steps to better protect our children from the dangers of household cleaning products.”

Klobuchar has been a leader in efforts to prevent accidental poisonings by detergent packets. At a Senate Commerce Committee hearing last year, Klobuchar urged the CPSC to consider stronger protections, including those that would make detergent packets more difficult for children to open and less appealing to children. Manufacturers, the CPSC, and consumer advocates worked together to create the new voluntary safety standard to reduce the risk of accidental exposure. Procter and Gamble’s announcement is a significant step in bringing the industry into compliance with the voluntary standard.

Klobuchar also supported The Detergent Poisoning and Child Safety Act which would require the CPSC to set mandatory safety standards for easily accessible liquid detergent packets. Specifically, the bill would give the CPSC the authority and direction to issue rules requiring safer, child-resistant packaging for liquid detergent packets within eighteen months, compelling industry to implement stronger and more effective policies that address: child-proof packaging for the container holding liquid detergent packets; design and color of the packets to make them less appealing to children; composition of packets to make consequences of exposure less severe; and proper warning labels that adequately inform consumers of the potential risks.

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