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Should There Be a Law Making Tide Pods Look Less “Edible”?

If you’re reading this and operating a computer or smart device all by yourself, we at Nerdist really, really hope you know that laundry detergent is poisonous when ingested, and not a food. If everything that smelled nice and came in bright colors could be eaten, there’d be no candles left in the world. Or Moss Man action figures.

But thanks to the next insane generation of would-be Johnny Knoxvilles on YouTube, some folks out there have made eating Tide Pods a thing. Now, sure, most of us look at that and remember all the times YouTubers would eat crazy hot peppers, or chug entire bottles of liquor, and generally end up in extreme pain and suffering as a result. But in New York, people are starting to say there oughta be a law. Via The Verge, branded videos from Rob Gronkowski are clearly not satisfying assemblywoman Aravella Simotas and state Sen. Brad Hoylman, who want a bill mandating that the company “make pods less visually appealing to children, teens, and adults with dementia by requiring manufacturers to change the design of laundry detergent packets to a uniform color. In addition, you and other manufacturers must use a stronger bittering agent to prevent ingestion of pods, reduce their pleasant smell, and make them feel more firm.”

There is precedent for this: stove gas has a detectable odor because that odor has been added for your safety, to make leaks more evident. There is also precedent for not doing it: antifreeze looks like Gatorade, tastes sweet (I’m told), and has led to many a pet death over the years. Maybe adding a powder element like Cascade dish-washing packs have might be off-putting enough, given that crazy YouTubers have already done a cinnamon challenge that might make all that powder seem extra gag-worthy. But adding something that might make laundry smell bitter would be a no-go.

Or…here’s a radical thought…maybe just keep that detergent on a high shelf away from children and elderly dementia patients. And never do something just because a YouTuber dares you to. I mean, I’m asking you right now if you have thoughts on this issue to leave them in comments, but it is purely a suggestion. Make up your own informed mind.

Image: Tide

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