The alarming number of children accidentally ingesting tide pods and of teenagers posting videos of themselves biting into the tiny packets for the “Tide Pod Challenge” have prompted New York City lawmakers to propose a bill that seeks to make the product look less tasty.
Sponsored by State Senator Brad Hoylman and Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas, the proposed legislation would require companies to use a “uniform color that is not attractive to children” and an opaque wrapper that is “not easily permeated by a child’s bite,” the New York Post reported.
Late last month, the company Proctor & Gamble announced that they are working to stop the Tide Pod Challenge.
“I assure you we’re working with our partners to do what we can to stop this dangerous trend, including ensuring social media networks are removing videos that glorify this harmful behavior,” P&G CEO David Taylor stated.
The company also released a video that is “designed to reach teens and young adults” via YouTube, featuring football star Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DrC_PF_3Lg
The American Association of Poison Control Centers reported that they handled more than 10,000 cases of young children being exposed to detergent packets last year, and that 606 similar cases have already come in this year.
The association also reported that they handled 68 cases resulting from the Tide Pod Challenge in the first three weeks of January.