Organic Cheaters Exposed by New Product Tests
You might expect a shampoo labeled “pure, natural and organic” to be, well … pure, natural and organic. And so you might be surprised, and ticked off, to learn that many leading “natural” body care products are contaminated with a mad-made carcinogen, according to new product tests. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
The Organic Consumers Association and author David Steinman shook up (and hopefully shook awake) the natural products industry with their report that 46 out of 100 brands of “organic” or “natural” body care products contained 1,4 dioxane, a probable human carcinogen that is the byproduct of a nasty petrochemical process involving ethylene oxide.
Contaminated brands included JASON Pure Natural & Organic, Giovanni Organic Cosmetics, Kiss My Face, Nature’s Gate Organics, and Citrus Magic 100% Natural Dish Liquid. (See full list of products here.)
Rapid Fire on dvd
–Stacy Malkan
April 1st, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I just recently got your book and have started researching. Seems like a lot of conflicting reports – how am I suppossed to know what to do? I switched to glass bottles back when all of the BPA reports came out and am now trying to figure out lotions, wipes, cosmetics, etc. I just bought a few things in the JASON line and now I read they are mis-representing the product! It frustrates me – why doesn’t the government do anything about this? I am trying to do the best for my family, but it hard to know what is right! Sorry about the vent – just thought you would understand!
May 7th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I read the report, printed it and emailed a majority of the companies. Most of them used the excuse that these were their OLDER products, not the new and ‘improved’ ones. JASON, SEVENTH GENERATION, WF et al. Even BABY PRODUCTS(Healthy Times) were contaminated! PLEASE READ THE LIST.
WHOLE FOODS even had products containing1, 4-dioxane, but did they REMOVE those products from the shelves? No. Now, why would these ‘organic, eco-friendly, companies who have OUR best interest at heart, not voluntarily remove these toxic, cancer-linked prducts? 1,4-dioxane is NOT an ingredient, it is a carcinogenic by-product from ethylene oxide producing this serious undisclosed contaminant!
WE need to arm ourselves with knowledge and fight for safer products…our lives depend on it. The message has to be loud and clear and we need to contact the companies and DEMAND removal. We have the power to make it happen.
Be diligent in selecting the safe products and email the companies who ARE protecting us. Fighting a multi billion dollar industry AND the people who are oblivious to how unsafe these products are will take ALL of us!
January 18th, 2009 at 9:18 am
I have also read the reports of cosmetic companies and what they add..
We the people have the power to stop Big or small companies that add poison to the products they sell… I dont buy them… Big problem for them when we do not buy the products that contain harmful cancer linked products.. The more People we tell the better the boycot..Look what happned to China and the toxic products they had, via USA, Having to stop makeing toxic toys . Shipments and orders canceled… China is in trouble and shutting down many many factories… Bring back our non toxic products.
I do Demand removal or I shall not buy the product. One voice goes a long way , Many voices can shut the industry down… Carcinogenics are out pure, and simple Ethics are in order when all of us get togeather. POWER is The People, pass the word. Thank you Safe cosmetics,
Connie In Washington State
January 29th, 2009 at 3:01 am
I first time visit in this blog. I find this blog have relevant information of New product tests.
March 5th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
I just wanted to thank-you Stacy Malken and the Environmental Working Group for all you do. This book is a HUGE eye opener. I had no idea that 87% of ingredients in personal care products have not been assessed for safety by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review, the industry’s self-policing panel. Also, that 1/3 of personal skin care products contain at least one ingredient linked to cancer! This is SCARY! I strongly recommend reading this book. We must all stand up and support the companies who aren’t using chemicals in their products.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:07 am
Hey, nice tips. Perhaps I’ll buy a glass of beer to the person from that forum who told me to visit your site
April 27th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Yes. I agree with all the comments above. Thats why its important to look for CHEMICAL FREE lotions and face creams…many companies use organic ingredients and then preservie this stuff with harmful chemicals. BE SMART – and dont just be fooled by marketing.
I have done alot of research on ingredients and I like the Made from Earth product line the best. Im not sure if I can print the URL here, but you can find them if you type in “Made from Earth skin care” into a search engine.
They are organic and chemical free – and thats all they sell. That way, I dont need to research every single ingredient on all the products I buy!
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:25 pm
The FDA used to protect Americans. In the ’60s, a scientist working at the FDA–a woman!–refused to okay thalidomide* for use in the United States, although. the drug was widely used in Europe by pregnant women experiencing morning sickness. Americans were proud of the FDA and very happy that the organization was protecting us.
Because Bush received large political contributions from drug companies, he did not–could not–support the FDA; instead he allowed these companies to police themselves. And certainly the FDA wasn’t going to push for regulation of the cosmetic industry. American women rarely seemed aware that they were using toxic chemicals on themselves and bringing them home for their families to use.
Now, thanks in part to EWG, we know. Yes, we’re frustated when the information on the Website is incorrect or misleading, but is anyone else doing this research for us?
Let’s continue to do our research with help from EWG; let’s write reports so other women can avoid buying inferior and/or mislabeled products; let’s try to make a donation, even a couple of dollars, to support EWG’s work. And finally write letters to your member of the House and both of your members of the Senate, telling them you don’t want toxic chemicals in any products used by Americans.
*caused severe birth defects (flipper-like arms.) Only one American woman gave birth to a deformed baby; she was traveling in Europe and was given thalidomide for morninig sickness. Hundereds and hundreds of babies in Europe were born with flippers during this time.
November 12th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
[...] a qualified Aromatherapist. Top-selling brands in the natural products sector have been found to contain 1,4-dioxane, a synthetic chemical [...]
January 6th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
[...] top-selling brands in the natural products sector have been found to contain 1,4-dioxane, a synthetic chemical [...]
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:00 pm
This was a pretty good read. I’m happy:glad I found this – and this woman only uses real natural products for from a skin care