Last week, a class action lawsuit was filed against the Procter & Gamble Co. alleging design defects in Tide Pods, the company’s individually packaged laundry soap, cause permanent stains on white clothing.
Lead plaintiffs Lisa Guariglia, Micheline Byrne and Michele Emanuele allege in their class action lawsuit that “Tide Pods have serious design defects (collectively ‘Design Defects’) that cause them to produce permanent blue/purple stains on white and light colored laundry, even when used as directed by P&G on Tide Pods’ packaging.”
According to the Tide Pods class action lawsuit, each plaintiff began using Tide Pods based on advertising “that Tide Pods were a detergent plus stain remover plus brightener and based on the convenience of the product.” The plaintiffs allege that they each experienced mysterious blue and purple stains on clothing and linens, but couldn’t figure out what was causing the stains for some time and continued to use Tide Pods as directed. The plaintiffs contend that they eventually each discovered the cause of the blue and purple stains were the Tide Pods themselves and allege that the pods caused between $200-$650 worth of damage to their laundry in the process.
“Tide Pods are marketed as a detergent, stain remover, and brightener but, rather than cleaning laundry, removing stains, and brightening laundry, Tide Pods actually have the opposite result, by causing permanent blue/purple stains on white and light colored laundry even when used the proper way according to the package directions,” allege the plaintiffs in their class action lawsuit. “On numerous consumer websites as well as on P&G’s own website, P&G has acknowledged that Tide Pods can cause blue/purple stains on laundry and insists that this staining can only occur when the consumer is not using the product correctly.”
The class action lawsuit also alleges that a February Consumer Reports article pointed out consumer complaints about Tide Pods leaving blue and purple stains. According to the Tide Pods class action lawsuit, P&G responded by telling consumers to not overload their washing machines and to place the pod before loading the machine.
“The responses to the staining complaints reported to the Tide Website regarding Tide Pods are consistent,” the Tide Pods class action lawsuit says. “If the consumer did not state specifically that he or she followed the instructions and placed the pods in the washer first, then P&G’s response is that the pods must be placed in the washer first. If the consumer stated that he or she placed the pods in the washer first, then P&G’s response can contain a number of solutions which include: ‘Do not use ‘Delicate’ cycle for heavy loads; Do not use a quick cycle less than 30 minutes; Pods cannot be used in pre-wash cycles; Do not place in the dispenser drawer; Pods can be used in temperatures ranging from 20 to 95 degrees C (68 to 203 degrees F).’”
“It is important to note that these additional washing directions provided by P&G in response to customer complaints of staining are not included on the Tide Pods packaging, and if a consumer did not become privy to these additional washing instructions (it would most likely be in response to a complaint to P&G of staining),” allege the plaintiff, “it would already be too late to avoid the staining problem and the resulting ruined laundry.” The plaintiffs also alleged that P&G’s responses contradict their advertising about the pods.
The plaintiffs seek to represent a nationwide class of consumers as well as New York, California, and Florida subclasses. The class action plaintiffs accuse P&G of breaches of warranty and merchantability as well as of violating various state business laws. They seek damages and attorneys’ fees as well as a court order requiring P&G to include a warning label on Tide Pod packaging about the blue and purple stains.
The plaintiffs are represented Mark Levine and Melissa Emert and Patrice L Bishop.
The Tide Pods Class Action Lawsuit case is Guariglia, et al. v. Procter & Gamble Co., et al., Case No. 2:15-cv-04307, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
UPDATE: On March 14, 2018, a federal judge ruled that Procter & Gamble Co. can’t dodge claims in a class action lawsuit alleging Tide Pods are defective because they are ineffective at cleaning clothes and actually cause stains.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2024 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
266 thoughts onP&G Smeared with Class Action Lawsuit over Tide Pods
We’ve had one winter jacket $150 and two of my wife’s expensive black blazers $75 ea. Looks like it has the plastic burned onto them and also leaving oil looking spots where the pod was
I had the most amazing set of cotton sheets. White. Couldn’t figure out the stain that looked like pale purple paint. I now am without these sheets because they became permanently stained. In addition to the pods sticking to clothes and making it necessary to rewash them. Trying to separate the dried pod from a pair of pajama pants. Ripped the pajamas. I think I will go back to liquid
Just got a brand new washer and dryer. Couldn’t wait to try the new Tide Pods. Washed my bed linen(sheets, duvet, and comforter. While folding I noticed this red, white and blue hardened plastic substance stuck to my linen. I couldn’t believe it. It was the Tide Pods. As though they didn’t disolve in the wash instead the plastic pod does nothing in the washer but releases itself in the heat of the dryer. Wow, didn’t expect that.
Ruined 4 pairs of jeans, pants, t-shirts, & a sweater of mine also.
It’s not fair. Clothes are very expensive. I know how to do laundry, I’ve been doing it for years with no problems at all, until buying Tide Pods.
What’s being down about this & will we be refunded our money that’s been lost by using Tide Pods???
Ruin clothes, towels and sheets!!!
Nothing like Buying Brand New Clothes and Duvet and Bedding and the first time you wash they are Destroyed with Blue Plastic Goo Stains that DON’T COME OUT!!
TIDE PODS!!
4X1
TAKE THIS GARBAGE OF THE SHELVES AND STOP RUINING PEOPLES LAUNDRY!
On 08/28/2016 I washed my clothes for the first time with Tide Pods and they didn’t dissolve all the way. I did not notice this and placed my clothes in the dryer and an hour later, I sitting in my livingroom and I smell strong smoke. I go into my bathroom where my dryer is located, 60 minutes later, and my clothes caught on fire. Ruined all my dress work clothes. I am furious and want Tide to pay for this. It almost burned down my apartment.
The pods don’t always dissolve. Or worse partial do near the end of the was leaving the stains. Very disappointed with this predicted and upset to lose some favoured whites.
I am so glad to know that I was just not ” seeing things”. There was a sale, I tried them and then noticed that there were these bluish-purple marks on my towels and light-colored clothing as I was hanging them up on the line. I was starting to think that there was something wrong with my washing machine.
Brand new expensive grey towels’ shorts, slacks, and shirts ruined because of pods! I always put in detergent, then water, then clothes! So upset with hundreds of dollars in clothes ruined!