Representative Steve Israel (D-NY) has introduced the Cleaning Product Right to Know Act (H.R. 5205) in the 114th Congress. The Act requires full disclosure and product labeling of household and institutional cleaning products.
Currently, cleaning product companies are not required to disclose ingredients in the products they sell in the U.S. Unlike cosmetics and food where you can pick up a product, read the label and find out the ingredients, the public has very little information about what they are being exposed to in products they use to clean their home.
We have a right to know what chemicals we are being exposed to in order to avoid ingredients that may cause allergic reactions or more serious harm. That’s why Congress must pass the Cleaning Product Right to Know Act. Knowledge is power and without this information it’s nearly impossible to avoid harmful ingredients.
I stopped using products with the ambiguous ingredient listing of "Fragrance" and "Perfume" years ago when I began to have horrible allergic reactions to bath and beauty products. The only common ingredient I found in the things that caused my reactions were those listings. When I did research and learned that these often meant artificially created chemicals that imitated natural scents, I kept an eye on everything I used and began to weed out possible allergens. This caused a switch not only to natural shampoos, soaps, and other body care products but also a switch away from certain dish soaps, laundry detergents, bathroom and window cleaners, and more. Pretty much the only thing I kept was the bleach which I use sparingly.
When I look at arguments against this act, I am sadly not surprised if annoyed by the number of people who don't understand or refuse to believe the facts that cleaning products used in the home are just as likely to affect the body and health of the inhabitants as their hygiene products or foods. These products are breathed in, rubbed against, and literally lived in like an atmosphere. They enter your skin, lungs, blood stream, etc just as if you had eaten or drank them.
When I look at arguments against this act, I am sadly not surprised if annoyed by the number of people who don't understand or refuse to believe the facts that cleaning products used in the home are just as likely to affect the body and health of the inhabitants as their hygiene products or foods. These products are breathed in, rubbed against, and literally lived in like an atmosphere. They enter your skin, lungs, blood stream, etc just as if you had eaten or drank them.
Take Action
Take Action by asking your state representative to support this Right to Know Act. There is a handy form over at Women's Voices for the Earth's site that makes it easy for you.
You can also show your stance by purchasing products that have full disclosure already of their ingredients.
You can also show your stance by purchasing products that have full disclosure already of their ingredients.
Seventh Generation is just one of the many companies that is backing the Cleaning Product Right to Know Act. To encourage getting the word out, they are offering a coupon book to the members of their Generation Good social media group for sharing about this act. See more at Generation Good.
Share the information about this Act on social media and ask others to join in on taking action with #ComeClean.
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