ACI: Interest Group's Attack on Cleaning Products is an Assault on Common Sense

Cleaning Products Are Used Safely and Effectively Millions of Times Every Day, Says ACI

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

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

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Cleaning Institute® (ACI, formerly The Soap and Detergent Association) today expressed disappointment with an outrageous new publicity campaign designed to promote false fears about cleaning products that are used safely and effectively every day.

"Cleaning products play an essential role in our daily lives," said Brian Sansoni, ACI Vice President of Communication. "By safely and effectively removing soils, germs and other contaminants, they 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.

"The Environmental Working Group's new publicity attack on practically every cleaning product category is really an assault on common sense. The group distorts the science and research about product and ingredient safety. It ignores the fact that an enormous amount of resources are dedicated to assuring the safety of products, including many millions of dollars in research, development and testing before products ever hit the shelves.

"And they seem to forget the three words on product labels that prevent potential real-life problems from occurring:

"Use as directed."

ACI added that "instead of sending out fundraising pitches that coarsen the public dialogue over product safety, interest groups should help focus attention on the great deal of information that is already publicly available on cleaning products and their ingredients. The public interest would be better served by dialogue rather than baseless attacks."

"Through our industry's Consumer Product Ingredient Communication Initiative, companies are sharing information about product ingredients via labels, websites, toll-free numbers or other non-electronic means," said Sansoni.  "Consumers can find out more in-depth information on ACI's Ingredient Central webpage: www.cleaninginstitute.org/IngredientCentral."

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