Contact: Brian Sansoni, The Soap and Detergent Association, 202-662-2517, Bsansoni@cleaning101.com

The Soap and Detergent Association -- Response Statement – National Environment Trust Report on Consumer Products

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 14, 2004 – The following statement was issued by The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA – www.cleaning101.com), the U.S. Home of the Cleaning Products Industry^SM, in response to an activist group’s report on consumer products:

“Cleaning products are used safely and effectively in millions of homes, offices, schools and healthcare settings every day. The same thing can be said for personal cleansing products.

“Naturally, any nonfood item in the home should be handled and used appropriately and with care. Manufacturers of these products go to great lengths to assure that consumers have the information they need to safely get the benefits—including health benefits—that these products offer. We encourage consumers to read and follow product label directions carefully.

“The use of beneficial hygiene products should not be discouraged based on reports -- like the one produced by National Environment Trust -- that do little more than stir up hypothetical fears rather than describe real-life, present day scenarios.”

Comprehensive scientific reviews clearly point to the benefits of using hygiene and household cleaning products. A 2002 report issued by the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene (IFH) firmly stated:

“The epidemiological evidence to date shows that raising awareness about the importance of key procedures, such as through hand-washing and surface hygiene (particularly hand and food contact surfaces) will have a considerable impact in the control and prevention of infectious organisms.”

A separate report by IFH’s Scientific Advisory Board emphatically concluded: “The application of good hygiene practice in the home can have a significant impact in reducing the impact of infectious disease.”

SDA also noted that consumers’ access to information on cleaning products has never been greater.

“Besides information on product labels, there are toll-free numbers to contact manufacturers and company websites that feature round-the-clock access to more detailed information about specific products.”

Consumers can find about more about the safety of soap and detergent products on SDA’s website, at www.cleaning101.com/cleaning/safety. Additional information on the safe and effective use of cleaning products can be found online at www.cleaning101.com/health/safe.

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SDA, the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry^SM, represents manufacturers of household, industrial, and institutional cleaning products; their ingredients; and finished packaging; and oleochemical producers. SDA members produce more than 90 percent of the cleaning products marketed in the U.S. SDA is located at 1500 K Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005.