Some consumer products on the European market are packaged to imitate food or appeal to children. This is for instance the case of certain shower gels, shampoos, body lotions, soaps, liquid soaps and dish-washing liquids. It is reasonable to expect that the closer a product resembles food and the more attractive it is to children, the more likely it is to be confused with food and swallowed. Who runs the greatest risk and what properties and circumstances might increase the likelihood of serious poisoning?

1. Products that resemble
foods and appeal
to children
Potential risks of accidental ingestion
1 How common and serious may drink from any open container within
Some consumer products - are poisonings? their reach, particularly if the smell is
namely cosmetics, personal care and nice. Many poisoning cases are related
The safety measures introduced in the last to corrosive solutions that are stored in
household products - are presented
30 years have brought down the number of unlabelled containers and unknowingly
to consumers in ways that make
poisonings from household products and, given to children.
them imitate food or appeal to
today, serious cases are very unusual. Two
children. This is for instance the case When elderly people have reduced sight and
of the most successful safety measures are
of certain shower gels, shampoos, senses of taste and smell, they cannot easily
the use of child resistant packaging and
body lotions, soaps, liquid soaps and distinguish edible products from others,
the substitution of harmful substances by
dishwashing liquids. particularly if they are disoriented because
other, less toxic ones. Education campaigns
of illness or medication.
It is reasonable to expect that the closer and laws to prevent storage of poisonous
a product resembles food and the more substances in food containers have also been
attractive it is to children, the more effective.
likely it is to be confused with food and At present, only few people who happen to
swallowed? swallow cosmetics and household products 1 ubstances
S
seek medical help. And among the reported with harmful effects
cases, few show serious symptoms. In
1 hat makes some products more
W general, there is little risk of serious health Household products frequently involved
likely to be mistaken for food? problems when personal care products are in accidental poisonings are detergents,
swallowed, and higher risk with household cleaners and bleaches.
Visually, some products are especially made
cleaning products, because of the more Their most harmful ingredients are
to look like a fruit or drink, or simply have
aggressive ingredients. corrosive substances, such as acids and
similar colours as food products. Others
The most common reported symptoms bases present in bleach or oven and drain
display pictures of food items or names and
are gastrointestinal (vomiting, abdominal cleaners, which can cause severe burns in
written descriptions imitating real foods.
pain) or neurological (drowsiness, impaired the oesophagus or the stomach.
If such products are sold or stored near
consciousness, low muscle tone, seizures, Other potentially harmful ingredients
real foodstuffs they can more readily be
and problems with movement, balance or include:
mistaken for such.
speech, seizure).
• Surfactants (e.g.
Pleasant fruity smells and tastes of non-
added to detergents and soaps to
food products can also cause confusion. Who runs the greatest risk?
remove dirt and stains),
Young children tend to be drawn to • lcohols and glycols (e.g. used in
A
Children under the age of 3 and the
anything within their reach, but particularly anti-freeze and windscreenwash),
elderly are particularly prone to accidental
by products with colourful patterns, baring
poisoning. • ssential oils (e.g. pine oil,
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a familiar character, or that smell nice.
wintergreen oil and camphor).
Warning labels have no effect on them since The risk of accidents may be greater when
they cannot read and a skull symbol may children are not closely supervised or when
even make a product more attractive to the adults looking after them are distracted
them. by other activities such as cooking. Children
This fact sheet is based on the scientific opinion “Opinion on the potential health risks posed by chemical
consumer products resembling food and/or having child-appealing properties”, an opinion adopted on
22 March 2011 by the independent European Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety.
The detailed and nuanced view of the European Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety on this issue is available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_056.pdf