Thousands of Household Items Now Set to Be Banned in Minnesota

We're now less than three months away from a whole list of common household products that will be banned here in Minnesota.

They're common household items many of us here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes use every day. They're likely in your house right now. But starting January 1st, 2025, these products will be banned here in the Bold North.

That means the clock is ticking, and we're now under 100 days until this dramatic new law, called Amara's Law, takes effect in Minnesota. So just what does it ban? That would be the production of any product that contains intentionally added 'forever chemicals.'

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According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), 'forever chemicals' are the common name for PFAS, some not-so-nice chemicals that we've been using for a while now:

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of thousands of human-made chemicals known to be toxic that do not break down in the environment, earning them the nickname "forever chemicals."

PFAS do some really nasty things when left unchecked in our environment. This MPR story says exposure to these chemicals, even in small amounts, is shown to "have harmful impacts on human health such as immune suppression, decreased vaccination response, changes in liver function and lower birth weight in babies," MPR said.

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According to the MPCA, intentionally added PFAS will be prohibited in Minnesota starting in 2025 in products that fall under 11 categories:

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Additionally, the MPCA says that the new law also applies to certain types of packaging used with the products above. And while PFAS are often found in these product categories, PFAS-free alternatives are already widely available, MPCA says.

While this new law prohibits new products across those 11 categories that contain intentionally added PFAS, it's not entirely new, however. MPCA says those same PFAS in firefighting foam and food packaging have already been banned in Minnesota as of Jan. 1st, 2024.

So just how will this ban affect you and your family in the North Star State? This MPR story says that because many Minnesota manufacturers have already been working to eliminate PFAS from their products, we likely won't see much of an impact. (And a note that the new law applies only to manufacturers and the production of *new* products-- so PFAS inspectors won't be stopping by to fine you for any existing products at your house.)

The MPCA notes that you may see 'changes to inventory or product performance in stores or online, but shortages are not expected,' MPR noted.

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LOOK: Here are the pets banned in each state

Because the regulation of exotic animals is left to states, some organizations, including The Humane Society of the United States, advocate for federal, standardized legislation that would ban owning large cats, bears, primates, and large poisonous snakes as pets.

Read on to see which pets are banned in your home state, as well as across the nation.

Gallery Credit: Elena Kadvany