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Here are answers to a few questions regarding SC Johnson products:

• At what level of the company is the decision made to use a 0-rated raw material?
• I heard SC Johnson products contain 1.4 dichlorobenzene (1,4 DCB) — is it true?
  
• Is it true that it is dangerous to use plastics in the microwave?
  
• I read on the Internet that an SC Johnson Glade PlugIns® air freshener product caused a fire at someone's home. Is that true?

At what level of the company is the decision made to use a 0-rated raw material?
Even though many 0-rated raw materials meet or exceed regulatory requirements, SC Johnson has decided to limit their use, replacing them with raw materials that are more biodegradable and have a better environmental or health profile. Approval of the use of a 0-rated raw material requires approval of our Worldwide Environmental Steering Committee, which is made up of senior management. Limited approval is given only when there is not a viable alternative.

I heard SC Johnson products contain 1.4 dichlorobenzene (1,4 DCB) — is it true?
None of our products contain the chemical ingredient 1,4 DCB. This chemical has been the subject of a study done by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). The study, published in the August 2006 issue of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, suggested exposure to 1,4 DCB (also known as paradichlorobenzene or pDCB) may cause modest reductions in lung function.

Unfortunately in many news reports, images of Glade^® air freshener products were used to illustrate the study, leaving viewers with the false impression that Glade^® air freshener products contain this ingredient. It does not.

Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of the people who use our products. That's why it's so important for us to set the record straight and make it clear that our products do not contain the compound that was under investigation in the recent study. As a matter of fact, none of our products have this ingredient.

When used according to label directions, consumers can continue to use Glade^® air fresheners and all of SC Johnson's products with confidence.

Is it true that it is dangerous to use plastics in the microwave?
In 2002, SC Johnson became aware of an e-mail that was being widely circulated, which warned consumers about the alleged dangers of using plastics in the microwave. This e-mail claimed that the combination of fat, high heat and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body, thereby increasing the risk of producing cancerous cells. SC Johnson researched these claims, and it is clear that the information is not only misleading, but also unnecessarily alarms consumers.

When used in the microwave, there is no trace level migration of dioxins from any Saran™ plastic wrap or Ziploc^® brand product. This is known because these products are 100 percent dioxin-free. You also should be aware that dioxins can only be formed when chlorine is combined with extremely high temperatures, such as the temperatures generated in waste incinerators. Those incinerators produce temperatures of more than 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit, an extreme temperature that even the most powerful consumer microwave ovens are unable to produce.

Saran™ plastic wrap and Ziploc^® brand products can be used with confidence when label directions are followed. All Saran™ plastic wrap, Ziploc^® brand containers and microwaveable Ziploc^® Bags meet the safety requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for temperatures associated with defrosting and reheating food in microwave ovens, as well as room, refrigerator and freezer temperatures.

I read on the Internet that an SC Johnson Glade PlugIns® air freshener product caused a fire at someone's home. Is that true?
No. It's an example of the kind of irresponsible urban legend that gets forwarded around the Internet and disparages brands.

It is important that you know that all of the Glade PlugIns^® air freshener products are safe and will not cause fires. The company knows this because Glade PlugIns^® air freshener products have been sold for more than 15 years and hundreds of millions of the products are being used safely.

Because SC Johnson is committed to selling safe products, the company thoroughly investigated these rumors. First, it confirmed that no one had contacted SC Johnson to tell the company about these fires or to ask the company to investigate them. Additionally, SC Johnson had a leading fire investigation expert call the fire department representative who is identified in one of the Internet postings. That fireman indicated that he has no evidence that SC Johnson products had caused any fire.

SC Johnson suspects this rumor may be associated with a past SC Johnson voluntary recall of one of its air freshener products, a Glade^® Extra Outlet Scented Oil product that was sold for a short period before June 1, 2002. After discovering an assembly error in a small number of that product, SC Johnson implemented a voluntary recall and provided extensive information about the product to the U.S. Consumer Safety Commission (CPSC). After revising the manufacturing process and thorough testing for proper assembly, the Glade^® Scented Oil Extra Outlet product returned to store shelves. SC Johnson has no knowledge of any credible reports of fire related to this product.