We wrap up our series of stories where retail shoppers are mad as hell and not going to take it anymore. This time, a Massachusetts shopper is suing Stop & Shop supermarket over their store brand of flushable wipes.
The consumer contends in his lawsuit that flushable wipes he bought are not actually flushable.
*MOUSE PRINT:
…reasonable consumers expect that “flushable wipe” products will disperse in a short amount of time after flushing and therefore will not clog or cause other operational problems in household sewage lines, septic systems, and other standard wastewater equipment. To be suitable for flushing, any “flushable” product must be able to quickly disintegrate into small pieces such that it can pass through sewer systems without issue.
4. Contrary to Defendant’s representations, the Wipes are not, in fact, flushable. The Wipes do not break apart or disperse after flushing.
Neither the consumer nor his attorney presents any evidence that the Stop & Shop brand of flushable wipes were tested by them and were shown not to disintegrate quickly. They offered studies of other brands that demonstrated the likelihood they would clog drain lines. This Consumer Reports video from almost 10 years ago showed how some brands could likely clog toilets but others would not.
In addition, the consumer claims that the packaging of these wipes cleverly partially covers the warning of when these wipes should not be flushed. You have to unfold the white flap on the bottom on the package to see the entire small print disclosure.
*MOUSE PRINT:
We’ll have to see if the consumer’s case holds up in court or disintegrates.
If one believes a wipe is strong enough for one to wipe without their digits breeching the wipe, yet that wipe will conveniently disintegrate as if on a timer, well, I’ll leave it right there. This strikes me as another get-rich-quick scheme.
As a woodworker, I have found that these wipes are the best thing for cleaning wood glue squeeze out when clamping parts together, and for cleaning glue off your fingers. I put glue on two pieces of wood , stuck them together then pulled them apart, wiped off glue, then clamped them together. They did not stick together. Wipes seemed to remove all the glue.
Good consumer tip. I’m going to try that. Thanks, Jim P.
I don’t know about Stop and Shop brand, nor can I say anything about how flushable wipes in general affect sewer systems, but Cottonelle Brand definitely is safe for septic systems. I started using them daily a few years ago. Last year I had my septic tank cleaned and was told it was in tip-top shape, no clogs. I don’t get that CR video – It didn’t show that some brands broke down while others didn’t and it missed the point completely. The wipes that claim to be septic safe are called safe on the basis that they break down quickly in septic systems, not just water.