Updated 1/7/12: One year later, these bogus warnings are circulating again via Facebook, Twitter, and text message. New variants don't mention anthrax but continue to declare that CNN has reported seven people dead as a result of adulterated Tide detergent samples.
None of this is true:
FWD: Tide detergent sample packages are coming thru the mail do not open or use. 7 people dead already. Please pass it on. IT WAS ON CNN
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: CNN IS REPORTING 7 PEOPLE DIED OPENING TIDE DETERGENT SAMPLES. TELL ALL TO DISGUARD THESE SAMPLES IF THEY COME IN YOUR MAILBX
HI every one who is on face book do not to use ( TIDE DETERGENT) That came In The Mail. It's A DEADLY WEAPON PLEASE DO NOT OPEN IT) PLEASE THROW IT AWAY. do not put it in the garage can in your house put it outside in the garage. Thank you.
Original post, 1/6/11: The "hot" rumor of the moment, baselessly declaring that seven people have died of anthrax poisoning due to contaminated detergent samples received in the mail, has in fact been circulating in one form or another since 2001.
That is to say, it's false and a decade old.
Here are some specimens posted via Facebook, Twitter, and text message late Wednesday night:
IMPORTANT FWD: Anthrax poison in Tide detergent packs coming thru the mail do not open or use. 7 ppl dead already. Plz pass it on!!!
Anthrax Poison in Tide Detergent packs coming thru the mail do not open or use. 7 people dead already. Please pass it on. IT WAS ON CNN
Just got a forward saying "Anthrax poison in Tide detergent packs coming thru the mail. Do not open or use, 7 people dead already. Please pass this on. It was on CNN yesterday." Has anyone else heard this?
I was informed that if you get any Tide samples don't open it. Its contaminated with Anthrax. 7 people have died so far. CNN is reporting don't open any sample of washing powder.
CNN issued no such report (you can search the CNN website here). No legitimate news sources have reported any instances of household products contaminated with anthrax in recent days, weeks, or months.
Procter & Gamble, manufacturer of Tide detergent, first addressed rumors about contaminated Tide samples six months ago via a company message board:
I work for the Tide brand, I can 100% confirm that the text message going around is not true. From time to time people do this kind of thing as a prank, unfortunately there is little we can do other than to share the fact that this is completely unfounded.
Mandy @ Tide, Official Rep
Variants tell the tale
Here's an interesting variant of the same rumor as posted on Facebook just a few days ago:
hey ladies be careful reciving any thing in the mail that you would smell just got a e mail here in florida 7 women have died by smelling free samples recived in the mail
Note that the above version warns against "anything in the mail that you would smell," not just Tide samples. Compare that variant to the following one received via SMS two weeks ago, just before Christmas:
FWD: Hey hun! If you receive any type of free sample in the mail such as perfume, lotions, diapers, etc.throw it away!!!!! Recently seven women have died after inhaling a perfume sample they received in the mail. If you receive anything of that nature, dont even open it! Throw it out immediately!
And finally, compare all of the above to this example, which I received via forwarded email on Dec. 8, 2001, a little over nine years ago:
Seven women have died after smelling a free perfume sample that was mailed to them. The product was poisonous. If you receive free samples in the mail such as lotions, perfumes, diapers etc... throw it away.
Read more about it:
• Poisoned Perfume Samples - A Terrorist Plot?
• Learn More About Rumors, Urban Legends & Hoaxes
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Comments
I remember getting this email back in college! What is it about “Tide” and “7 people” that makes it so instantly believable…?
Anyway, thanks for this extremely timely article–I actually just got this FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: text from my paranoid right-wing mother. I wonder if we’ll see a report about Tide anthrax on Fox News tonight? We all know how well they check THEIR sources.
LOL> This is all too funny because I just got this text yesterday. It is a good idea that I researched this before making any accusations or statements.
I do not think that you would have to be a “right-wing mother” to be alarmed at such. I knew it was a hoax, but think it is pretty harsh to stereo-type someone that would be alarmed…just sayin’
I read somewhere that some lady immediately threw away all here tide products when she first heard about it. It’s good to be safe but don’t over do it.
As a general rule, I research EVERYTHING before I pass it on. If I haven’t seen it on the news myself, I Google it or Snopes it to make sure it’s even valid. People just start rumors to see how far they’ll go, and we end up with egg on our face when we have to tell our friends, “Sorry I ninja’d your inbox with junk mail.” lol
With as many of these hoax emails/texts going around I’m amazed anyone believes anything anymore. Between anthrax-laden Tide, winning the British lottery, Nigerian business ventures, and my personal favorite – “this one trick discovered my a mom makes your teeth instantly white” it amazes me that people are still falling for these and forwarding them on.
Why do people do that??? so stupid!!
@ Bobert: pretty much, just something about using common brand names & “believable numbers” that makes people accept it as true (I got the perfume sample to purse/car theft ones back in ‘02)
@ Jen: He isn’t generalizing those who might believe the hoax, he was saying where he got the message from, his mother, who I’m pretty sure he knows well enough to make any (possibly) exaggerated descriptions for hyperbole on the internet. All he’s really saying is his mom is a conservative (maybe very much so) and that she tends to worry (also, maybe very much so)
I was told about this “issue” by my supervisor at work, and the version she got was the “they said on CNN…” one. I really should tell her it’s a hoax, if one of my clepsydra hasn’t already. Remember folks, only you can prevent mass hysteria.
I just got a text about the same thing… Thankyou for clearing this up. I think that’s crazy how its been going around for that long….
same here, i just got this text message about the tide, but im not the type to pass on information without first googling it.. i just text my friend back and advise him to not to forward text without investagating it first. wow!
I received this text this morning. My mom sent it to me, and her co-workers sent it to her. Its not the first time my mom receives this kind of text, being the type of person my mom is (naive); I immediately went searched on line. I wasn’t surprised to what I find out… B/S about the text. So I sent my mom and all her co-workers a link to this page.
Just got this text message and immediately checked it out. Always research everything especially if deaths are claimed.
I just got this text this morning from my dad and sister. Glad I’m the one in the family who got the Fact Checking gene.
i just recieved the same text today 1/6/11
Why can’t they trace where these things start? If they could
find them, they should be put in a cell with no access to a computer. iPod, cell phone, etc.
The message come to my mom and she was freaking out but I didn’t believe it.
WOW… I just received this text today
I got the message today. I thought it was other chain letter that people like to send out. And I am so glade that I was right.
I thought I would check it out before I pass it on. Hope we can be safe and clean.
Remember the bored shepherd boy who cried wolf just for kicks? When he was actually confronted by a wolf, the villagers did not believe his cries for help and the wolf consumed him and his flock. Even when liars tell the truth, they are never believed. The liar will lie once, twice, and then perish when he tells the truth. Perhaps we sheep are being conditioned so that we will ignore the truth when it does arrive.
I couldnt agree with you anymore, because one of these days it WILL happen and real people will actually die and nobody will believe it because of rumors like these.. the government is out to get us no doubt..
I just got the text! lol its funny to see how people react. I was even informed to not open it and call the police immediately as to protect my kids and myself! I do get concerned about these things but I always look it up to see if it has been on the news or not. I mean if it was on the news then I am more likely to take them seriously. I even checked my local news and NOTHING there! I wont use the tide if I get it as I only use liquid Tide but I will be willing to give it to a family member!
Ha, my mother just called me with this report about five minutes ago. She had heard it off my sister and wanted me to text/facebook everyone. I said, ma two words: urban legend. Glad it wasn’t true, but honestly I’m pretty sure I heard this same one last year. People please come up with some new stuff, ok? I should probably be calling her back now….
i go the message today too. truth is, its a fake rumor, and you shouldnt try any samples in the mail anyways. no matter what it is. make up, detergent. buy your own stuff, and dont use free things.
IM A LETTER CARRIER AND I THINK STUFF LIKE THIS IS STUPID AND THEY NEED TO BE PUNISHED… THEY ARE ALREADY SHOOTING, STABBING, AND ROBBING MAIL CARRIERS THIS IS THE LAST THING WE NEED…. GROW UP PEOPLE
myself, mother, and father all received the txt my mom and i knew it was a rumor but dad believed it Iproved him wrong and told the people who sent it to us. I think this stoff is a bunch of bs
I just recieved this as a text and I looked it up before i passed it on.
It’s always an odd number of people that die from such rumors.
Just thought it was interesting. It’s either 1, 5, 7 or 9 people.
Boyfriend just got the text and called me all freaked out. Turns out he just bought some Tide yesterday. Had to tell him I checked online and its a chain letter gone viral.
Thank goodness I checked before I forwarded the text cause I was not sure if this was true either.
May their text messaging system delay all the bogus msgs they receive for 10 years
just got the text from a friend claiming this was on CNN today. I immediately googled it and found this article, among many others, that discredit the rumor. I knew it sounded fishy, especially because I check CNN every day and didnt see anything like this. She sent a follow-up text a few minutes later so hopefully nobody got too crazy over it.
I got one today. haha.
This is good to know! I just got the text message today!
lol my brother just sent me this as text msg
thanks for the update and setting things straight
It could be a warning, don’t think the devil isn’t busy and yes God sends his people warnings.
seriously? just sayin… its just a text..what are yall getting so worked up over? lol..
I got that text twice today. I always look things up like that before spreading it.
I just got this and I Don’t even know the number that sent me this… People these days man… I’m sure tide would tell CNN about this.. Why are people so dumb
Just got this text message yesterday! People need to find some else better to do with their time!
Hey I got the text to and because of the situation I just forwarded it without thinking so its not because people dont have anything to do its just if it might be true you should be on the safe side with fam and friend.
Yeah I just got the text earlier today (6-10-11) and I forwarded it just in case it might be true and then I found this site and just sent my family a text its definatly true its not that we dnt have anything better to do its just to be safe you never know with people anymore everybodys out to get everybody..
I got the text message yesterday. At the bottom of mine it said it was on cnn. So im glad i looked it up.
I never open that stuff anyway. This world is crazy, so I wouldn’t be shocked if something like that happens for real in the future. Better safe than sorry! Can’t judge people for forwarding the message. Most of them are doing it because they are genuinly concerned.
My mom just recieved this text this morning and asked me to look it up on CNN and google, and to see if i heard anything about it at work (the County Health Department). Nothing being said here, other than it is NOT true. People do this to see how people react. Craziness.
Funny how the right wing mom in the first comment is made fun of but the wrong wing daughter doesn’t respect her.
http://urbanlegends.about.com/b/2011/01/06/anthrax-in-tide-detergent-hoax.htm
I got this message, checked it out, sent back to sender nicely that it was a hoax but she still believes it. I feel sorry for people who are so frightened about stuff before they check things out.
I just got a forward sayin the same thing and idk who the person is or how they got my number
I received the same text! And threw away my tide Products then
People should not FWD things unless they no 4 sure. I threw away all tide products. THANKS”
Ha! You are too paranoid. Believe nothing that you hear and half of what you see.
Funny how ppl are so Pathetic since the Hoax has been around since 2001 why would there still be tide on the store Shelves today.. HELLO!!!! People…Stop, and think B4 you forward and cause more drama then there needs to be in the world , if tou havent seen it on CNN by now the im sure it would be a Hoax.
I’m glad it’s not true because I would hate to really hear of someone being killed for no reason, what do people get out of starting rumors…
At what point do you believe these false rumors, never?
never hurts to check..who is tides greatest competitor? most likely a stock market trick..ironically tide did have lawsuits in the 1980’s of phosphorous related deaths 7 people..if my memory serves.. something scientifically questionable but could not be directly associated with actual tide ingredients and the water source was linked to sewers. however many laundry detergents no longer contain phosphorus due environmental concerns. earliest forms of detergent and some commercial detergents still contain lye. a caustic ingredient..causes burns to skin and body tissue if ingested
soooo is this rumor true???..im all tooo confused…
Wow Bobert….hater of Fox …u must be a democrat…they’re the only ones that hate FOX so much…as for these scams…we all know ppl love to scam in anyway they can..I’d be more concerned of getting an email that has a virus attached than the actual threat they’re trying to forward
@hope I find your statement ridiculous that democrats hate foc. I for one like fox; however, their news coverage is at tomes unreliable. There are better ways to go about life other than putting people who don’t have the same political views A’s you do down. You also should use limiters so that your statements aren’t so generalized. As for this tide thing people are concerned and want to tell their friends and that’s a good thing, but I wish they would research this information before they go around spreading false information. In the words of hope . . . They must be Republicans lmfao just playing
She was pushed…
About 6 years ago in Indiana, Carmen Winstead was pushed down a sewer opening by 5 girls in her school, trying to embarrass her in front of her school during a fire drill. When she didn’t submerge the police were called. They went down and brought up 17 year old Carmen Winstead’s body, her neck broke hitting the ladder, then side concrete at the bottom. The girls told everyone she fell… They believed them.
FACT: 2 months ago, 16 year old David Gregory read this post and didn’t repost it. When he went to take a shower he heard laughter from his shower, he started freaking out and ran to his computer to repost it, He said goodnight to his mom and went to sleep, 5 hours later his mom woke up in the middle of the night cause of a loud noise, David was gone, that morning a few hours later the police found him in the sewer, his neck broke and his face skin peeled off.
If you don’t repost this saying “She was pushed” or “They pushed her down a sewer” Then Carmen will get you, either from a sewer, the toilet, the shower, or when you go to sleep you’ll wake up in the sewer, in the dark, then Carmen will come and kill you.
I just got the text. I immediately searched it and found this. So helpful thanks
I just got this same text a few mins ago. Glad to know its not true.
LOL..I just love the disrespect that children are giving their moms on here. NOT.. Learn some respect people and it’s not just the right wing that should be concerned everyone gets concerned about their family. Dude/Chick should be grateful his/her mom gives a da** about him/her enough to ask these questions. Just saying.. From a Conservative Mom..
i just got this text today glad i researched it. i would feel foolish if i had not checked out the truth first.
There is a saying that goes: Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see. Anyone who believes things without checking them out first is definately foolish.
I forwarded what I recieved from dear friend just to few people including people that I work. I also quickly google it. I learned thru all post even an exact example of the text that I recieved. I understood the intent text to sincerely warn me. It is embarssing for me to join and affect others as well. I didn’t apply the general rule researching first before passing the text. I just didn’t know anything prior to text. I did follow up with text indicating the original text was unfounded not only to peple I forwarded even to my friend originally send me the text. I’m decay behind. Never read or hear such false text circulating even today (6.9.11)
What kind of sick person would send that out? I think its immature to start a rumor like that to see how far it goes and to scare people. It has parents worrying over there kids and quickly forwarding it, and people yelling at Tide for no reason. It reminds me of a 3 year old saying his brother broke the lamp. Thankfully, whenever i get any kind of forward i do my research before passing it on.
There are idiots who start rumors just for kicks, freakin retards.
It’s crazy how even in 2012 we’re STILL on this rumor spree!!! C’mon!!! It’s a new year, let’s enjoy it & FULLY research this before we go spreading this hoax rumors, scaring family & friends!! Life is too short for that!!!
Just got this today from a family member. Can’t believe over 10 years and this Tide rumor is still alive. Glad I checked it out before sending it all over creation.
come on people, 7 women died from smeling perfume, 7 women died from trying on lotion, 7 women died from using tide; can you see the patern
I just received this too…11 years after the original. I don’t understand why people don’t at least GOOGLE the information before they forward…?!? It takes 5 seconds to do. I always check this site or any other urban legend site before I forward.
lol… my neice just texted me freaking out that she just saw this on cnn…. i laughed at her! its funny how one little sentence can freak out so many people.. lol!!!!! Poor thing actually believed this..
im rolling cause i just saw this on my wall from another girl..people need to read up
I just got this text frm a strange number and immediatley googled it. Haaha wow since 2001?!
LOL I just got the text too. Wasnt worried about the whole anthrax scare kinda pissed I dont have the free sample..
I just got this email form my sister today (Jan-05-2012), You would think someone should tell Tide to stop killing people by mail since 2001…LMBO
Has everyone in America just been forwarded this crazy text tonight!?!
Just got this text tonight lmao
People its better to be safe than sorry!! The very time you think it will not happen…. it happens it all a scheme to lure you to sleep than it happens!
I got this text message today!!!!!!!! lolllllllllll
I got this text message today lol
My friend sent it to me and i told him, you are not suppose to drink it.
Just got it… again. 1/6/12
Why would anyone smell a diaper sample?
just received this text and I just deleted it
just got an email via text regarding this and googled it. LOVE the internet that it can calm rumors quickly! Thanks for all your posts!
I just received this text also and immediately googled it because if it was true it would have definitely be on One of the popular news stations that I watch ever morning so I had a suspicion it was false
Just received this text…. I always google first. The internet is a blessing
… I was going to ask the person who fwd me the text if they actually seen it on tv. Dumbo… Some people can be so gullible..
I just received this in text message a few minutes ago!
i jus recieved that text a minute ago but dont believe it it’s been circulating for years now but im also it’s jus a rumor
I never pass along rumors…you people are stupid.
These days any thing can happen. Most of the time you don’t know what to believe, on t.v. or a text . I texted it out first and checked it out later. I feel like it’s better to be safe than sorry. So you got a text and it turns out to be a rumor. Soooo what! The one supposed rumor, that turns out to be true, could save a life.
I receved yesterday. then totally tell my friends. If rumors.
just say people so boring. so stupid. don’t make joke.
anytime, anything, anyone. really could save a life. be peace.
It wasn’t fun. why people do ………?
I just received this email today, I’m glad I checked it out first before spreading more gossip about tide. It just didn’t sound right to me that 7 people died and nothing went national in the news. Chain letter written all over this one..
iF SOMEONE IS PLAYING A JOKE,ITS A HELL OF A JOKE, AND IF FOUND THEY SHOULD BE ARRESTED,PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST,BEING AS THOUGH WE HALF TO WASH CLOTHES.AS IF WE DON`T HAVE ENOUGH TO WORRY ABOUT IN THE WORLD TODAY.pEOPLE NEED TO SPEND THIER TIME LOOKING UPTHIER BIBLE AND READING IT.
Just got this text like 1 min ago! People should really stop it!
I just got this message but instead of “7 women” it said “8 people” wtf is wrong with people nowadays? As if we don’t have enough on our minds we need this too? I don’t think so
My brother-in-law just called and told me this. LOL
Y wont you jus video tape it opening up the package n see wat happens n send it on youtube so we can see if its true or not
Hey Bobert,
Too bad you use your mother to put down Fox. Can’t you do your own debating? Just sayin’…
i jus got da same text like 5 mins ago and had to look dis up myself cuz i luv free samples
Lol. I got the same text. I asked if it were true, she told me yes as if she saw it her self. I admit I was a bit alarmed, even though I am not a tide user. I say, rumor or no rumor, you still have to be careful with what you open, sniff, or touch when it comes through your mail box or in your news paper. Because people cant be trusted anymore.
I just got this txt from friends of mine its extremely similar to the first msg at the top. I didnt believe it n wanted to check it out see if it’s true. I’m now on my iPod, n note: I’m only 13 years old.
STOCK MANIPULATION PEOPLE, OPEN YOUR EYES. WHOEVER IS BEHIND THIS IS BETTING AGAINST THE STOCK!
Well if they decide to attack in the future via tide or anything else we will think its false because of this rumor. We will all open our samples proudly because we will assume its false. I hope that prediction doesnt come to pass and CNN has to report this rumor that was false years ago came true.
These are simply rediculous. Forwards are never true. If it was that important people would be calling not texting.
I received this text this morming please if seven people had died from anything it would be all over the news.