Tide Pods, Gain Flings, Ace Pods and Ariel Pods liquid laundry detergent packets packaged in flex...
CPSC Recall #24-189 — April 5, 2024
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 24-189 |
| Recall Date | April 5, 2024 |
| Remedy Type | Refund, Replace |
| Units Affected | About 8.2 million (In addition, about 56,741 were sold in Canada) |
| Manufacturer | The Procter & Gamble Company, of Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Manufactured In | United States |
Where It Was Sold
| Big Lots |
| CVS |
| Family Dollar |
| Home Depot |
| Sam’s Club |
| Target |
| Walmart |
| and other major stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com and other websites from September 2023 through present for between $5 (one 12 ct. bag) and $30 (four 39 ct. bags in a box). |
Product
Tide Pods, Gain Flings, Ace Pods and Ariel Pods liquid laundry detergent packets packaged in flexible film bags. This recall announcement applies only to bags distributed in the United States.
Description
This recall involves certain lot codes of Tide Pods, Gain Flings, Ace Pods, and Ariel Pods liquid laundry detergent packets packaged in flexible film bags that were manufactured between September 2023 and February 2024. Recalled products range from bags with 12 to 39 laundry detergent packets and include the following: Gain Flings Original Tide Simply Pods Plus Oxi Boost Gain Flings Moonlight Breeze Scent Tide Pods Clean Breeze Scent Gain Flings Blissful Breeze Scent Tide Pods Free & Gentle Gain Flings Spring Daydream Scent Tide Pods Oxi Gain Flings Plus Ultra Oxi Tide Pods Ultra Oxi Gain Flings Plus Odor Defense Ace Pods Clean Breeze Tide Pods Original Ace Pods Spring Meadow Tide Pods Spring Meadow Scent Ariel Pods Alpine Breeze Tide Pods Light
Hazard
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.
Incidents & Injuries
No confirmed cases directly relating to this packaging defect. The firm has received four reports of children in the United States accessing the liquid laundry packets, three of which reported ingestion during the time period that the recalled lots were sold, but it is not known if these laundry packets came from recalled bags.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately secure the recalled bags out of sight and reach of children and contact Procter & Gamble for a full refund and a free replacement child-resistant bag to store the product. Consumers can also receive a cabinet lock for securing laundry materials. Consumers should check to see if their bag is part of the recall by checking the lot code on their bag. Recalled lot codes will be listed at pg.com/bags and are found on the bottom of the package. Consumers with recalled bags can submit a photo of the recalled product, showing the lot code to participate in the recall.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund, Replace at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Refund, Replace) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.