Representative Israel (D-NY) and Senator Franken (D-MN) introduced legislation in 2009 to require household cleaning products and similar products bear labels that state completely and accurately all of the ingredients of such products.

“Moms and dads have a right to know whether harmful chemicals are present in their kitchen cupboards,” Franken says. “When my wife, Franni, and I were raising our own kids, we were constantly concerned with what we used to wash their cribs, their pacifiers, the floors and surfaces they played on. This is just a commonsense measure to help parents keep their kids safe and healthy.”

Currently the law requires that product labels list immediately hazardous ingredients, but are not required to label ingredients that may cause harm over time. Harmful chemicals in cleaning products can cause asthma, skin irritations, respiratory ailments, and damage to the reproductive system and the nervous system. For example: ammonium quaternary compounds are disinfectants found in some disinfectant sprays and toilet cleaners that have been identified as inducers of occupational asthma; glycol ethers, such as 2-butoxyethanol, are solvents commonly found in glass cleaners and all-purpose spray cleaners that have been linked to reduced fertility and low birth weight in exposed mice.

While getting legislation introduced is a huge accomplishment, there is still a long way to go. A new momentum from parents needs to occur to get this bill out of committee. Review our Tips and Tools for Action for ideas on how to get the ball rolling again for product labeling!

Additional Resources:

• Read Full Text on Household Product Labeling Act
• Spread the word: share the video with your friends and family and ask them to contact their local Legislature.

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