Scare Campaign Misleads, Distorts Information on Safely Used Cleaning Products, says ACI

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Sep 10, 2012, 12:02 ET

-- Cleaning Products Are Used Safely and Effectively Millions of Times Every Day

-- Despite Interest Group Scare Tactics, Consumers Can Continue to Take Confidence in Safe Use of Beneficial Products

-- Ingredient Information More Readily Available Than Ever Before

-- Fact-Based Information on Cleaning Product Safety Available at www.cleaninginstitute.org/clean_living/

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumers can continue to use cleaning products in their homes properly, safely and effectively, despite the distortions coming from a special interest group's attack on these beneficial products, according to the American Cleaning Institute.

"The cleaning products industry dedicates an enormous amount of resources to assuring the safety of products, including many millions of dollars in research, development and testing before products ever hit the shelves," said Brian Sansoni, ACI Vice President of Communication. "Additionally, products must meet all applicable federal and state quality, safety and labeling regulations."

"Nothing is more important than the safety of the families who use these products."

"The disappointing scare campaign by Environmental Working Group promotes false fears about cleaning products, which play an essential role in our daily lives," Sansoni added.

ACI says this latest EWG effort distorts the science and research about cleaning product and ingredient safety and defies a fundamental principle of science by ignoring that ingredients can be used safely at the levels present in cleaning products.

"It is a fact that anything can be safe or unsafe – it all depends on the amount. Manufacturers work to ensure that they use levels of ingredients that are 'just right' - in that they provide a benefit in the products, but at the same time are safe."

ACI reminded consumers that more information is available than ever before on cleaning product ingredients, which companies are providing on labels, website, toll-free numbers and other non-electronic means.

More in-depth information is available on the industry's Consumer Product Ingredient Communication Initiative via ACI's Ingredient Central webpage: www.cleaninginstitute.org/IngredientCentral.

"By safely and effectively removing soils, germs and other contaminants, cleaning products help us to stay healthy, care for our homes and possessions, and make our surroundings more pleasant. Consumers can continue using cleaning products with confidence," said Sansoni.

For decades, ACI and its members have been trusted sources of information on the daily use of cleaning products in the home. You can find a great deal of useful, fact-based information at www.cleaninginstitute.org/clean_living/.

The American Cleaning Institute® (ACI - formerly The Soap and Detergent Association) is the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry® and represents the $30 billion U.S. cleaning products market. ACI members include the formulators of soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in household, commercial, industrial and institutional settings; companies that supply ingredients and finished packaging for these products; and oleochemical producers. ACI (www.cleaninginstitute.org) and its members are dedicated to improving health and the quality of life through sustainable cleaning products and practices.

SOURCE American Cleaning Institute