Editorial: Lollies in pill like packs - bad idea

Lollies which come in packaging that look similar to prescription medicine cannot be a good idea.

To children, medication in pill form probably already looks like lollies to them. So, when lollies come in blister packaging it gets even more confusing.

This week, The Daily Post featured an article about Rotorua parents outraged over lollies packaged in long sheet blister packs being sold at Rotorua dairies.

Parents were concerned that children could confuse these small circle lollies, called Choco4, with dangerous medicine. Rotorua parents, business owners and other members of the community said the lolly packaging looked like commercial medicine blister packs.

These are small candy-coated chocolates which are individually packaged in blister-pack form. But what is the point of it all?

While an argument was that Wrigley's sold chewing gum in packaging similar to medicine blister packs was raised, it's a little redundant.

Why? Because the Wrigley's Extra Professional, which promote teeth whitening, aren't targeted towards children - and the blister packaging is hidden inside a box.

These Choco4, on the other hand, are obviously targeted towards children.

It seems very irresponsible and dangerous to sell lollies which look similar to medication.

For many children, anything small and tablet-like probably looks like a lolly, so when the packaging of lollies and medication is hard to differentiate, it's a bad idea.

We as adults should always make sure any kind of medication is out of children's reach but with lollies like this available in dairies, it stresses that importance even more.