Minnesota Lawmaker Leads The Charge For New Standards For Detergent Packets; Voluntary Standards Aim To Reduce Choking Accicents By Children

One of the latest innovations in laundry and dishwasher detergents has also been a deadly one;  the recent creation of single-use "pods" or "packets" has led to an upswing in accidental choking incidents in children.  Now - thanks in part to efforts by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, manufacturers are seeking to make them safer.

The detergent packets are bold, colorful, and often look like candy to young children.  According to Klobuchar:

We’ve seen an alarming uptick in poisoning cases involving these packets in recent years and that is why I have pushed for protections that would prevent kids from being harmed by these products. The announcement of a voluntary industry standard is an important step forward and a good example of how consumer and industry groups can work together to protect our children from the dangers of household cleaning products.

Klobuchar has worked side-by-side with the detergent companies and the Consumer Product Safety Commision to ensure that changes be made.

The new safety standards would be voluntary, but many detergent manufacturers are willingly participating in the creation of them.  The end result would make the pods less appealing, with a goal of reducing these choking incidents.