Tide Pod, Gain Flings detergents recalled over safety concerns; sold at Walmart, Target, CVS

More than 8 million bags of Tide Pod, Gain Flings and other popular laundry detergents are being recalled due to concerns the packaging could split open and give children access to the products.

In its announcement, maker Procter & Gamble said the recall covers Tide Pods, Gain Flings, Ace Pods and Ariel Pods liquid laundry detergent packets packaged in flexible film bags.

“The outer packaging meant to prevent access to the contents can split open near the zipper track, posing a risk of serious injury to children and other vulnerable populations if the contents of the laundry detergent packets are ingested, as well as posing a risk of skin or eye injuries. Ingestion of a large quantity of any surfactant-containing household cleaning products can cause death among individuals with underlying health issues,” P&G said in a statement.

The packages were produced between September 2023 and February 2024 with bags ranging from 12 to 39 laundry packets. They were sold at various retailers, including CVS, Home Depot, Sam’s Club, Target, Walmart and Big Lots.

No confirmed cases directly related to the packaging defect have been reported, according to the Federal Trade Commission. However, P&G has received four reports of children in the U.S. accessing the liquid laundry packets, three of which reported ingestion during the time period the recalled lots were sold, but it is not known if these laundry packets came from recalled bags.

Consumers are advised to keep the recalled bags in a secure place out of the sight and reach of children and contact the company for full refund and a free replacement child-resistant bag that can be used to store the product. Customers can also receive a cabinet lock for securing laundry materials, P&G added.

You can see a list of recalled lot codes here.

Consumers can contact Procter & Gamble toll-free at 833-347-5764 8 or online at www.pg.com/bags.