SACRAMENTO, CA — California Governor Gavin Newsom today signed into law a vital ingredient transparency bill for children’s diapers (AB 1901). The measure will require manufacturers of children’s diapers to disclose the intentionally added ingredients in their products, both on product packaging and online. The bill, introduced by Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) and co-sponsored by Consumer Reports, the Environmental Working Group, the Center for Environmental Health, and Children Now, will take effect in 2029.
“When companies are transparent about what they’re putting in their products, consumers win. This law will ensure that parents and caregivers in California have the information they need to make informed choices about which diapers are best for their baby,” said Oriene Shin, manager of safety advocacy for Consumer Reports. “Consumer Reports encourages all states to approve similar bills so that Americans across the country can shop confidently for their little ones. We thank Assemblymember Berman for his leadership on this important issue, and commend Governor Newsom and the California Legislature for standing with families.”
In 2026, CR partnered with Made Safe and Made Wise on a packaging information analysis of 31 disposable diaper brands. The analysis found that two brands disclosed all or nearly all materials, showing that such transparency is feasible. By contrast, seven of the brands provided little or no information about product materials. Most of the remaining companies disclosed only some of the materials, and many didn’t disclose how materials were used.
Young children wear diapers virtually around the clock—an estimated 8,000 diapers over the course of a baby’s diaper-wearing career. Babies’ skin is thinner and more permeable than adult skin, making it more susceptible to irritation and the potentially harmful effects of chemicals. Yet there is no federal law that requires children’s diaper manufacturers to publicly disclose the ingredients and materials used in their products. Greater transparency can help parents and caregivers identify potential ingredients of concern, including those associated with skin irritation or rashes, or with longer-term health effects like hormone disruption.
In December 2025, New York became the first state to require all disposable diapers sold in the state to include ingredient labels on product packaging. In June 2026, Illinois passed a similar law, which takes effect in 2027. The California law goes further by requiring that children’s diaper companies post ingredient information both on packaging and online.
Contact: cyrus.rassool@consumer.org