A four-year-old girl, Luca de Groot, was blinded in one eye after biting into a Persil laundry pod that her mother had given her to hold while helping with laundry. The toddler, who lives in Perth, Australia, accidentally bit into the pod, causing it to burst and spray detergent into her eyes. Luca then rubbed her eyes, which spread the chemicals across both of them.
The toddler’s mom believes the current warnings on the Persil and Omo packaging are ‘not good enough.’ Credit: Kennedy News and Media
Her mother, Jodi Lowe, quickly rushed her into the shower, attempting to rinse the chemicals out and checked the product packaging, which advised flushing the eyes with water and seeking medical advice. However, the pain continued, and Luca was taken to the hospital, where she underwent surgery. Despite attempts to flush the chemicals from her eyes, her condition worsened, and she required multiple surgeries, including an amniotic membrane transplant to aid healing.
The four-year-old toddler was blinded in one eye after biting into a common household item. Credit: Kennedy News and Media
Days after the accident, Luca’s eyes became swollen, red, and covered with blisters. She was discharged after 16 days in the hospital, but her sight has not fully returned due to a visual impairment caused by the incident. Lowe has criticized the warning labels on laundry pod packaging, saying they are inadequate and fail to emphasize the severity of potential injuries, such as burns or the need for medical attention. A spokesperson from Unilever, the company behind Persil and Omo, stated that consumer safety is a priority and would review the safety advice on their products.
The little girl was rushed to the hospital and taken into surgery. Credit: Kennedy News and Media
