(BOSTON, August 2) -- Dishwasher detergents containing phosphates, which are banned under a new Massachusetts environmental law, were still being offered for sale at nine out of 10 area retail stores spot-checked last week by ConsumerWorld.org, a leading Boston-based consumer education website.

          The law, enacted in February 2008, but not effective until July 1 this year, bans the sale and offering for sale of all household cleansers containing phosphorus (phosphates), and lifts the previous exemption for dishwasher detergents.  Now, all dishwasher detergents for home use must be phosphate-free.

          Consumer World scoured the shelves of 10 supermarkets, drugstores, and big box retailers on July 29 in the Boston area, and was able to find and purchase banned products in every store but one.

“Stores had two and half years to prepare for the ban, but somehow couldn’t find the time to scrutinize their shelves to remove the now illegal products,” commented Edgar Dworsky, founder of Consumer World. 

          Retailers found to be selling one or more varieties of banned dishwasher detergents included: Stop & Shop (Somerville), Rite Aid (Somerville), Walgreens (Somerville), Family Dollar (Somerville), Target (Somerville), Shaw’s (Somerville); Foodmaster (Charlestown), CVS (Charlestown), and Kmart (Somerville).  These stores had between one and three varieties of banned products on display, and between one and 24 packages of each type.  The only store that did not have any dishwasher detergents containing phosphates on its shelves was the Market Basket in Somerville.  [See chart.]

          Under the Massachusetts law, the Department of Public Health can seize these illegal products and seek fines of $1000 to $5000 a day against offending retailers.

Phosphorus was banned in cleaners because it promotes the growth of algae in freshwater lakes and ponds, and that in turn deprives fish of oxygen. Massachusetts joins 15 other states with restrictions on the phosphate content of household cleaners: Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan , Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin . 

Phosphate Dishwasher Detergent Survey

July 29, 2010