Grab a Green Bottle Look-Alike Liquids
The Bottom Line
There are many types of look-alike products. It is easy for an adult or a child to mistake a cleaning product for a soft drink or a container of glue for eye drops.
The Full Story
Is it water, soda, or something else?? If you look quickly, it's hard to tell. One of these bottles above contains imported sparkling water. Another contains a popular soft drink. The third? That one contains plant food. Drinking it may not hurt you, but it will be a nasty surprise.
ALWAYS store food separately from other products. ALWAYS read the label before eating or drinking anything. And ALWAYS keep the number for Poison Control close by, just in case: 1-800-222-1222. Call right away if you've swallowed something you shouldn't have or use the webPOISONCONTROL® online tool for guidance.
Rose Ann Gould Soloway, RN, BSN, MSEd, DABAT emerita
Clinical Toxicologist
Poisoned?
Call 1-800-222-1222 or
Prevention Tips
Before using a product, read the label and follow the directions. Every time.
This Really Happened
An adult male grabbed what he thought was a bottle of fruit drink to help him swallow a pain pill. In fact, the bottle was a household cleaner. Because he was remote from medical care, he made himself throw up. This is not recommended, but the bottle did not provide advice. He developed a nose bleed and diarrhea which persisted for three days.
For More Information
Poisoned?
Call 1-800-222-1222 or
Prevention Tips
Before using a product, read the label and follow the directions. Every time.
This Really Happened
An adult male grabbed what he thought was a bottle of fruit drink to help him swallow a pain pill. In fact, the bottle was a household cleaner. Because he was remote from medical care, he made himself throw up. This is not recommended, but the bottle did not provide advice. He developed a nose bleed and diarrhea which persisted for three days.