Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) took to the bully pulpit yesterday to denounce a troubling trend in laundry technology: tiny detergent pods that look like candy. The senator himself admitted that, when he saw one sitting on a staffer's desk, he wanted to eat it. Forty children in New York have accidentally eaten the non-edible detergent pellets since April, the Daily News reports, and 1,210 cases were reported by June nationwide.

"I don't know why they make them look so delicious," Schumer said.

As members of the food media establishment, we have to take a long, hard look at ourselves when stories like this come to light. Are we partly responsible for everything in the world looking more delicious? Should we shoulder some of the blame for the adventurous habits of soap-eating kids? Have our food-colored lenses tinted the world a dangerous shade of delectable?

To right any potential wrongs, we think it might be safer to impose a blanket ban on candy for children. Teach them that it's poisonous from day one, and just toss some Stevia on their midday kale chip snack pouches to sate their (hopefully underdeveloped) sweet tooths. At least that way, and at least until the laundry industry develops leafy green-shaped dryer sheets, your child can be safe.

[via NYDN ]