GAINESVILLE - It looks like candy but is anything but a treat.

Officials at Poison Control say they're seeing a number of kids eating laundray detergent packaged in bright colors. 

In North Central Florida officials say that number is lower.  Officials say parents need to take extra precautions when doing the laundry.

"The main thing that we're seeing is nausea vomitting and some time breathing difficulty,"  Vicki Coppen of Florida Poison Control said.  

Poision Control officials say 307 accidents were reported between March and September this year.   

In North Central Florida and along the Atlantic Coast, 41 cases of kids eating laundry detergent pods have been reported since May.

Officials say toddlers and kids up to 7 years old are mistaking the pods as candy.
 

"They're usually very colorful and pretty," Coppen said. "They're a draw. Anything that's laying out is a draw to little ones."

Poision control officials say both parents and companies that manufacture detergent need to do their part to make sure kids are not eating the laundry pods.

"On their side it would be nice if they put them in child-resistant packaging," Coppen said. "On the parent's side they need to put them behind the a closed cabinet with a child resistant lock on it so kids can not get into it."

Poision Control officials say right now there is no law mandating companies make child resistant packaging, but some companies are looking into how to make the pods safer.