A brand tried to make its cleaning products more sustainable. They wound up looking like soda cans.

• A toxicologist called out the design of a cleaning product for looking like a can of soda.
• The post went viral, with many agreeing that sustainability isn't worth the risk of poisoning.

A cleaning company has packaged some of its products in aluminum cans to make them better for the environment. But experts say it's dangerous because it could easily be confused with a can of soda.

Puracy's "Clean Can" is a line of cleaning products, including hand soap, dish soap, and stain remover, that are packaged in recyclable aluminum cans.

On its website, the company emphasizes the environmental benefits of using aluminum cans, stating that they are more recyclable and weigh less than single-use plastic bottles.

But on October 8, Josh Trebach, an emergency physician and medical toxicologist in Iowa, called out the design in a post on X (formerly Twitter), and suggested that the potential health repercussions of a cleaning product looking like a soda can may outweigh the environmental benefits.

"It is incredibly stupid to put cleaning supplies in a soda pop can," he wrote.

The post went viral, and has over 1.8 million views and thousands of reposts. Many people quoted his post and added that they too would be concerned that it could be confused with a drink, especially as one of the products is "green tea and lime" scented.

A spokesperson from Puracy told Insider that the can is designed with "protective measures," including a "noticeable, extra strength sticker" over the top of the can that reads "DO NOT DRINK" that must be removed before the can is opened. They also said that the top of the can is "prominently labeled" in red with another warning that reads, "DO NOT DRINK."

However, Trebach does not think that these measures are enough. "Even if you have a disclaimer on there saying 'do not drink,' English is not a primary language for everyone," he told Insider. "Let's also not forget about kids who are not of reading age and won't be able to appreciate the warning labels."

Kaitlyn Brown, a pharmacist and clinical toxicologist who works as the clinical managing director at the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC), told Insider that it is important that products do not look like common food or beverage packaging. "Products that mimic food or beverage products pose risk to individuals of all ages," she said.

Puracy isn't the only brand that has been criticized for making its packaging look like soft drinks. In one reply, a user wrote that products by household care company Fabuloso looked similar to juice, and that they always pointed them out to their young children as "poison" in case they encountered the product in someone else's home.

According to Healthline, household soaps — especially those not intended for use on the body — can be poisonous and result in life-threatening symptoms, including gastrointestinal issues and a rapid drop in blood pressure.

Citizens concerned about potential poisoning are advised to call the Poison Control Center 24/7 at 1-800-222-1222.