Cascade dishwasher detergents

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. No one hurt

   Made Jun 27, 2024 · , sent to the company Jul 1, 2024 · , published by CPSC Jul 16, 2024

   The product, in the report: Cascade Complete dishwashing powder

   Used two different types of Cascade dishwashing powder trying to find one that did not leave perfume smell and taste on dishes. My husband, as well, could not be in the kitchen when I opened the Cascade Complete to get a pod because he would get an asthma attack from just being in the room. We found the same trouble removing the perfume smell from [REDACTED], the next detergent we went to to find a powder that did not leave a disgusting smell and taste on our dishes. Same experience. 4 follow-up rinses do not remove the problem. Not hard water; ensure spray arms are unimpeded; use extra hot water setting and extra scrub. Cannot be healthy if some chemical remains on our dishware that then goes into our bodies. [REDACTED] had numerous complaints about this issue on the Home Depot web site (not where I bought my package) where company did the same thing of telling each complainant to call them. I had just sent a form email to [REDACTED] just before finding the Home Depot web site showing many others having same problem. I was also trying to find a DW powder that wouldn’t inflict digestive problems with my husband: diarrhea, bloating, stomach discomfort. Repeated rinsing stopped that for Cascade and [REDACTED] products! But smell and asthma still a disgusting issue. He developed troublesome digestive issues (discomfort, bloating, stomach and intestinal pains) beginning about 2 years ago that we nor the doctor could explain. I now suspect he has had some possible damage/lasting symptoms from these products. He is unwilling to have me provide his name. Did hear the rinse agents in detergents (dishes, clothing) can cause digestive problems in people. Quite concerned now.

   Model

   Complete

   Where

   Cleveland Heights, Ohio: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 67, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   My Spouse

   As this report names them

   Brand Cascade, made or sold by The Procter & Gamble Company

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

2. Hurt, care not known

   Made Jun 22, 2023 · , sent to the company Jul 12, 2023 · , published by CPSC Jul 26, 2023

   The product, in the report: dish washing pods.

   The consumer has a safety concern about one of the ingredients used in the product-benzotriazole.

   (06/21/2023) The consumer stated that this is the first time that she has bought the product. The consumer opened the bag and was sitting close to it. Suddenly, she wasn’t feeling well. The bag had only been open for about five minutes. The consumer looked at the ingredients on the bag and did research on benzotriazole. She discovered that it was very toxic.

   The consumer stated that she is astounded that this ingredient is allowed to be in a dish washing product.

   Bought from

   unknown

   Where

   Morristown, New Jersey: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Female

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Cascade Platinum Pods, made or sold by The Procter & Gamble Company

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Level of care not known

3. Emergency room

   Made Mar 18, 2022 · , sent to the company Apr 18, 2022 · , published by CPSC May 2, 2022

   The product, in the report: Cascade Platinum Dish Pods

   Text of Consumer’s letter date January 21, 2022 to Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC:

   To whom it may concern:

   I’m writing to you to file a complaint against Proctor & Gamble for the immediate removal of their product cascade platinum dish pods from the market.

   My story started this past Wednesday, January 19th, 2022 when I was loading my dishwasher. Two of the pods stuck together which I found to be quite common as they sit under my kitchen sink and acquire moisture. I twisted to get it detached and the chemicals & plastic from the pods blew directly into my left eye. The intense burning and pain was indescribable. I started flushing immediately at my kitchen sink. I immediately contacted [REDACTED] ER to see how I should proceed. I was told to contact poison control of WI. I did and was then told to go immediately into the shower for 20 minutes to start flushing, afterwards to go to dark place to rest the eye. The poison control nurse called me back in 45 minutes from the initial time of my 1st call. Since I was not any better, she advised me to go immediately to the ER. She contacted [REDACTED] in Janesville, WI at which time I immediately went.

   I was put directly in the eye room where numbing drops were applied and I was offered pain medication while they continued to check the pH of my left eye. The RN then proceeded to place the Morgan lens into my left eye and 1000 cc of IV fluid was instilled into my left eye due to the chemical burn. The pain was unbearable. I was discharged and told to follow up with ophthalmology. I went to see my optometrist that afternoon. She again checked the pH at which time my left eye was too high alkaline due to the chemical burn & plastic from the pod explosion in my left eye. She told me then to go after the company for this corneal abrasion. She irrigated my eye in the office and prescribed steroid & antibiotic drops. I left the office in tears from the pain.

   That night the pain became even worse to the point I was crying out due to the difficulties of light entering my eye and the swollenness and redness I was experiencing. Drainage continued with pus and fluids leaving my left eye. My husband took pictures of both my eyes for documentation. He then proceeded to call the ophthalmologist on call while I was calling the ER back.

   My husband took me to [REDACTED] ER immediately. I was again checked for pH, given the vision test where I could only see the big E from my left eye. The ER doctor did a complete evaluation of my left eye. She told me that the pain of chemical exposure and burn to the eye is one of the worst pains seen in the ER. She prescribed narcotics and an antibiotic eye ointment. Both ER visits that day I was told what a familiar occurrence this is in the ER, pods causing chemical burns to the eyes. My husband and I then went to [REDACTED] to get both prescriptions filled while I was in utter tears due to the pain this caused.

   We came home and I took 2 narco which gave me sleep from 11pm to 4am.

   I followed up the next day with my optometrist where she told me the eye was doing better than the day before but it was going to be a long process. Again, she told me that I should go after the company. She reached out to a corneal specialist and I was asked to follow-up with her on Monday, January 24th. She told me to continue with the drops, the ointment, and the pain mediation at bedtime.

   I have [REDACTED] this type of eye injury caused by this product and [REDACTED] is filled with people who have suffered the same problem.

   I am asking for the immediate withdrawal of this product from the consumer market.

   Sincerely, [Signed]

   Where

   Janesville, Wisconsin: Unspecified

   Who was involved

   Female

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Cascade, made or sold by The Procter & Gamble Company

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received

4. Emergency room

   Made Aug 17, 2018 · , sent to the company Aug 24, 2018 · , published by CPSC Sep 17, 2018

   The product, in the report: Cascade dishwashing Platinum tablets

   I was pulling apart two Cascade Platinum dish washing tablets that were stuck together and the liquid squirted into my eye causing a chemical burn.

   Where

   Bronxville, New York: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 56, Female

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Cascade, made or sold by The Procter & Gamble Company

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received

5. Emergency room

   Made May 6, 2017 · , sent to the company Jun 23, 2017 · , published by CPSC Jul 17, 2017

   The product, in the report: Cascade Complete pod for an automatic dishwasher

   I was using a Cascade Complete (by Procter & Gamble) pod to put into my dishwasher. The covering of the pod split so that the liquid squirted into my eye at lose range with great force. I could feel it burning and it was very painful. I instinctively rinsed my eye in cold water for 5 minutes. then I read the warning on the pkg. that said to rinse it for 15 min. If I got some in my eye. I did that, but it was still very painful with a burning feeling so that I could not keep my eye completely ope.

   I called the company phone number on the box. The first person I talked to took a report with my name and what happened. Then he transferred me to their medical dept. Again, I told what had happened and that I still was not ok. she said to go to a doctor or emergency room.

   I did that and was diagnosed with “burn of cornea and conjunctival sac. They flushed my eye with 1 liter of saline, which took about 1/2 hour, and was a painful treatment in itself.

   Please recall this product - this could happen to anyone.

   UPC

   3700093572

   Bought from

   Costco

   Bought

   Apr 22, 2017, about then

   Where

   Nevada City, California: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 73, Female

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Cascade complete, made or sold by The Procter & Gamble Company

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received

6. Seen by a doctor or nurse

   Made May 18, 2016 · , sent to the company Jun 9, 2016 · , published by CPSC Jun 23, 2016

   The product, in the report: Dishwasher Detergent

   The consumer indicates that three of the liquid/ powder packages were stuck together and when he tried to separate them, one of the packages squirted part of the liquid section directly into his right eye.

   The consumer immediately rinsed his eyes for approximately fifteen minutes; this was repeated once again thirty minutes later.

   05/16/2016 - Because the consumer’s eye was still irritated and red, the consumer visited his ophthalmologist, whom after treatment with steroids, antibiotic and sterile water drops told him he had received a grade two corneal injury and should follow up two days later.

   05/18/2016 - The consumer followed up with his Doctor; his eye has improved much and that he should continue his treatment. The Doctor informed the consumer that he was lucky his injury was not worse.

   The consumer believes the packaging of the product is faulty and should not be sticking together or packaged under pressure.

   Model

   Cascade Platinum Dishwasher Detergent 10X Power

   UPC

   Unknown

   Serial number

   60411731271405

   Bought from

   Costco, North Carolina

   Bought

   Feb 15, 2016, about then

   Where

   Waxhaw, North Carolina: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 58, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Cascade, made or sold by The Procter & Gamble Company

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Seen by Medical Professional

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources