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Shoppers claim to spot 'dangerous' detail on Aldi product
An Aldi product has come under fire on an online fan page after a mum shared images of what she and others are calling a 'dangerous' packaging oversight by the international supermarket chain.
The item in question at a first glance seems innocent enough – a bottle of their Logix dishwasher liquid.
But as one mum pointed out, dishwasher liquid can actually be very harmful if ingested by children, and Aldi's product is pictured with an easy-open pop-top lid, rather than a safety lid.
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"Not impressed with this new lid design which could easily be opened, allowing a child to ingest a caustic product," the mum wrote alongside a snap showing the product's lid. "Yes, I have written to Aldi and yes, I do store it away from the children’s reach."
Automatic dishwashing detergents (ADD's) including powder, tablets or detergents contain ingredients that can make them dangerous if they are swallowed, inhaled, or come into contact with eyes or skin.
Unlike standard dishwashing detergent used to wash in the sink, products for dishwashers contain salts and chemicals designed to keep the machine running smoothly and to degrease – great for your dishwasher, bad for your esophagus.
"These special qualities of ADDs make them strong irritants capable of causing chemical burns, can be corrosive if ingested," a US poisons control site reads.
Parent's divided over 'dangerous' design
The shocking image had plenty who agreed with the mum who shared it, arguing that the supermarket should be more responsible in their packaging of such a common household item.
"Dangerous chemicals shouldn’t be so easy to get into," one mum wrote.
Other argued parents should simply be better at storing items in hard-to-reach areas
"If you store it out of child’s reach.. what’s the problem?" one parent wrote.
Others argued that Aldi should err on the side of caution.
"Accidents do happen," one person wrote. "I'm glad you brought it to Aldi's attention."
"Yes I was concerned when I saw that too," another wrote. "I thought legally it had to be childproof in Australia."
Aldi confirmed to Yahoo Lifestyle that the dishwasher liquid is compliant with Australian consumer standards.
No regulation on dishwashing detergent in Australia
Interestingly, despite there being known dangers if the item is ingested, there is no regulation insisting on sealed packaging for dishwashing detergents like the liquid in question, or the popular tablet option.
An information page on the dangers of dishwasher detergents published by Choice slammed this state of affairs, pointing out that given the contents of the household cleaners can be seriously harmful to kids and they should always be sealed with a safety cap.
"These closures are pretty effective, but we here at CHOICE find it a real shame you can still buy dishwasher detergents and other household chemical products that come in simple cardboard boxes that aren't child-resistant at all," the article reads.
Other major retailers like Coles and Woolworths stock brands like Finish who also have liquids and tablets on sale with no safety packaging, and in a rather brutal conclusion the consumer watchdog lambasted those brands who continue to sell the products in unsecured packaging.
"For shame – you know who you are!" they write.
In a baffling twist, old images of the product suggest it did once come with a safety cap that was ditched for the new pop-top, likely after several customers complained it was too tricky to take off.
One counter-argument put to the safety cap calls by shoppers on the social media post was the argument that what made the product extra-secure for kids, made it impossible for the elderly.
"I think this lid is great I struggled with the safety lid and I know it will be a lot easier [for] elderly who have arthritis," one lady pointed out.Aldi did not respond to requests for comment.
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