Don’t do the “Tide Pod Challenge”

For the life of me I can’t understand a new trend that’s sweeping social media called the “Tide Pod Challenge”, where teens are filming themselves eating laundry detergent pods before challenging others to do the same.

It’s horrifying, stupid and very dangerous. Where did this idea come from? And why has it been taken up by a glorified supporters club? Is it a 21st-century death wish? Tide laundry detergent pods contain ethanol, polymers and hydrogen peroxide – all of which are toxic if consumed, causing vomiting and diarrhoea.

In extreme cases, eating them can be life-threatening.

Regarding the challenge, Procter & Gamble issued the statement: “Our laundry packs are a highly concentrated detergent meant to clean clothes and they’re used safely in millions of households every day.

“They should be only used to clean clothes and kept up, closed and away from children.

“They should not be played with, whatever the circumstance is, even if it is only meant as a joke.”