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New Standard Designed to Improve Liquid Laundry Detergent Packet Safety

Aimed at reducing risks of ingestion, especially by children

WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — A new safety standard for labeling and packaging individually wrapped liquid-detergent laundry packets is aimed at reducing risks of ingestion, particularly by children, ASTM International says.

“This is a great example of how industry, consumer groups, government and others come together, reach consensus, and work to create a stronger culture of safety and health,” says James A. Thomas, president of ASTM.

Laundry packets are an increasingly popular way for consumers to start a single load of laundry. However, the packets have been a concern due to accidental ingestion by children, which has caused coughing, choking, vomiting, respiratory distress, loss of consciousness, and if in contact with the eyes, irritation and corneal burns.

The new standard details how liquid laundry detergent packets should be contained in opaque or other packaging intended to mask the visibility of the packet and be labeled with warning statements. The specification also provides the packaging-performance requirement options for complying with the standard, which will make packets more difficult for children to open.

“Manufacturers of liquid laundry detergent packets are very committed to reducing the number of accidents with these products involving children, which are used safely by millions of consumers,” says Richard Sedlak, executive vice president for technical & international affairs at the American Cleaning Institute (ACI). “We maintain an unwavering commitment to consumer safety and look forward to continue working closely with our colleagues in the ASTM process.”

laundromat safety posters web

The American Cleaning Institute produced this poster for use in Laundromats to remind patrons about the dangers of allowing children access to liquid laundry detergent packets. (Photo: ACI)

Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].