Tide, Gain laundry detergent packets recalled in Canada, U.S. over packaging defect

Procter & Gamble (P&G) is recalling more than 8 million bags of Tide, Gain, Ace and Ariel laundry detergent packets sold in the U.S. and Canada due to a defect in the products' child-resistant packaging.

According to Friday notices from both P&G and product-safety regulators in the U.S. and Canada, the outer packaging meant to prevent easy access to the liquid laundry detergent pods can split open near the zipper track, posing serious risks to children and others who may ingest them, in addition to possible skin or eye injuries.

So far, there have been no confirmed injuries directly tied to the defect. During the time period that the recalled lots were sold, there were four reports of children accessing the laundry packets in the U.S., including three ingestion cases — but whether these pods actually came from the recalled bags is still unknown, P&G and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

No incidents or injuries have been reported in Canada.

The Canadian side of the recall involves five Tide- and Gain-brand products:

• Gain Flings, Moonlight Breeze scent, 16-pack bag
• Tide Pods, 3-in-1 Clean Breeze scent, 31-pack bag
• Tide Pods, 3-in-1 Spring Breeze scent, 31-pack bag
• Tide Pods, 4-in-1 with Oxi Clean, 15-pack bag
• Tide Simply Pods, Oxi Boost + Ultra Stain Release, Refreshing Breeze scent, 13-pack bag

The broader recall impacts select batches of Tide, Gain, Ace and Ariel laundry detergents that were manufactured between September 2023 and February 2024 and sold at major retailers including Walmart, Target, CVS and Amazon.

The recalled products, which can be identified by lot code, vary in scent and size. About 8.2 million were sold in the U.S. and more than 56,700 were sold in Canada.

Refunds, replacements offered

Consumers in possession of the now-recalled bags are instructed to keep the products out of the reach and sight of children and contact Cincinnati-based P&G for a full refund and replacement child-resistant bag to store the detergent, which itself remains safe to use for laundry purposes.

In Canada, consumers can contact P&G by calling 1-833-347-5764 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET on weekdays, or between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. The company can also be contacted through web portals, listed here.

Health risks tied to the ingestion of liquid laundry detergent has been well-documented — notably in light of the social media-fuelled "Tide Pod challenge" that skyrocketed several years ago. Eating the detergents' chemicals can cause vomiting, diarrhea, liver and kidney damage, and even death.

Beyond online trends, experts warn that children are especially vulnerable to accidentally ingesting liquid laundry packets, as they may confuse the products with candy — urging consumers to always store them safely.