No More Guessing About “Other Ingredients”

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Blog | Oct, 30 2017

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No More Guessing About “Other Ingredients”

householdcleaners_breastcancertoxins

Ever wonder what those “other ingredients” listed on your cleaning products were?  Well now, you will get to know and make an informed decision about bringing toxic products into your home.

SB258,_householdtoxins
Under the new California law, “Other Ingredients” will be replaced by a listing of the actual chemicals used, including fragrance ingredients.

California is setting the example

On October 15, 2017, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law the Cleaning Products Right to Know Act (SB 258), which requires manufacturers of cleaning products sold in California to disclose chemical ingredient listings on product labels and on manufacturer’s websites.  Companies have until January 1, 2020 to comply.

S.B. 258 is quite significant since it represents “the very first law in the nation to require disclosure of ingredients directly on the label and disclosure of fragrance ingredients.”

Until now, cleaning product companies have not been required to disclose most of the ingredients on their product labels. Yet these are products that most people are exposed to every day.

In fact, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) and others have identified over 200 chemicals, many of them found in cleaning products, that have been associated with breast cancer.

Is Our “Right to Know” About Toxins in Household Cleaning Products Hitting the Mainstream?

This new bill will requires chemical labeling on industrial cleaning products.

The sponsors of the California bill were a diverse group of organizations and companies. To be expected, forward-thinking companies like Seventh Generation and Honest Company were on board, along with environmental groups like Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE). 

“The pressure on companies over the years to reveal more about what they are exposing their customers to helped get them to the table to sit down with Women’s Voices for the Earth and our NGO partners to find a solution we all felt good about,” said Jamie McConnell, Director of Programs & Policy for Women’s Voices for the Earth in a recent email.

This new thrust by companies towards more ingredient transparency means that consumer pressure is finally paying off! Other states are catching on as well. The state of New York is currently working on a similar initiative called the “Household Cleaning Product Information Disclosure Program.”

In the Meantime, Be Aware of Chemical Exposure to Prevent Breast Cancer!

As many Healing Divas know, one of the key components of a Healthy Breast journey is to “Reduce Toxic Exposure” (Essential #2). That means it is up to you to educate yourself about harmful toxins that may increase your breast cancer risk, both in your home and in the outside environment.

We know we live in a toxic world. There is no denying that. BUT, there are steps that you can take to minimize your exposure to toxic ingredients.

Here are a few tips:

  • Always read your labels before purchasing a product for your home
  • Try to stick to bio-degradable and/or organic
  • Slowly replace your regular cleaning products with non-toxic ones
  • The simpler the ingredients the better
  • If you have the time or interest, you can actually make your own cleaning products. White vinegar and a few drops of peppermint oil makes for a great class cleaner. 
  • If you would rather purchase clean products – here are a few options – Pure Haven Essentials or Young Living Oils. ( I love the Thieves cleaners) 

Make a commitment to choose safe products made with only natural, non-toxic ingredients. Check out Environmental Working Group’s “10 Household Tips for Cancer Prevention” to get started or the many blogs on this site that talk about which specific chemicals to avoid as well as how to detox your body if you have suffered from long-term household chemical exposure in the past.

 

Dr. Veronique Desaulniers, better known as Dr. V, is the founder of The 7 Essentials System ™, a step-by-step guide that teaches you exactly how to prevent and heal Breast Cancer Naturally. To get your F.R.E.E. 7 day mini e-course, and to receive her weekly action steps and inspiring articles on the power of Natural Medicine, visit https://breastcancerco.wpengine.com/.