Many people who have participated in the Tide Pod challenge have ended up in the hospital or worse. In fact, the consumption of laundry soap become so problematic that the Tide Company took to social media, urging people not to eat their laundry soap:
What should Tide PODs be used for? DOING LAUNDRY. Nothing else.
Eating a Tide POD is a BAD IDEA, and we asked our friend @robgronkowski to help explain. pic.twitter.com/0JnFdhnsWZ
— Tide (@tide) January 12, 2018
People who participated in the Tide Pod challenge began tweeting the company and asking what steps they should take after eating a Tide Pod:
Tide Pods are laundry detergent and are not flavored for ingestion. Intentionally ingesting liquid laundry packets is dangerous.
— Tide (@tide) January 25, 2018
Our Product is absolutely not to be consumed. Plesae, if you have, drink a glass of water or milk and contact the Poison Control Center(800-222-1222) or a Doctor Immediately.
— Tide (@tide) January 17, 2018
Please drink a glass of water or milk and contact the Poison Control Center(800-222-1222) or a Doctor Immediately.
— Tide (@tide) January 17, 2018
A Solution from U.S. Lawmakers
In light of the aforementioned Tide Pod challenge, many Americans are wondering how to properly discourage people from consuming liquid chemicals. However, New York Democratic lawmakers Brad Hoylman and Aravella Simotas have an idea.
Apparently, both Hoylman and Simotas are pushing for Tide to repackage their products. The two New York lawmakers believe that if Tide Pods look “less tasty” perhaps people will feel less inclined to eat them.
