Toxins in U.S. Baby Shampoo

It’s pretty clear that formaldehyde, used to embalm corpses, is not a health elixir. What’s less clear is why Johnson & Johnson thinks it’s a good idea to put this carcinogen in baby shampoo.

Something to Cry About: Carcinogens Formaldehyde and Dioxane in Baby Shampoo
Two years after first asking the baby cosmetics giant to take formaldehyde-releasing quaternium-15 and another potentially cancer causing chemical, dioxane, out of Johnson & Johnson products, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics released a new investigation this week showing that the company is starting to do so, but not in the United States.

“Clearly there is no need for Johnson & Johnson to expose babies to a known carcinogen when the company is already making safer alternatives. All babies deserve safer products,” said Lisa Archer, director of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at a new conference.

Victory! Johnson & Johnson to Take Toxins Out of Baby Shampoo
Johnson & Johnson responded to the coalition’s investigation with a statement that because “some consumers are concerned,” they are “phasing out formaldehyde releaser preservatives from our baby products” as well as the campaign’s other target, dioxane. If U.S. consumers would like to avoid exposure to those chemicals – say – now, they can buy the (more expensive) Johnson Naturals line of baby care products.

“This is great news, and different from what we expected based on past interactions,” Archer told Forbes. “But it’s not over. We have to see how quickly they’re willing to make this shift and where.”

Find Out More About Toxic Cosmetics
Which brings us to the real problem: ingredients in cosmetics are poorly regulated and disclosure of ingredient hazards is not mandated in the United States. U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., have introduced a bill designed to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority to ensure that personal care products are free of harmful ingredients and that ingredients are fully disclosed.

Check out Gina-Marie’s article The Safe Cosmetics Act Would Protect Consumers or the video below for much more.

Related Articles:

Breast Cancer: Pink-Washing Pollutants

New Government Report Says Formaldehyde Causes Cancer

Toxins in our Hair and on our Faces

stock.xchng photo by mokra

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Christina B.

5:29AM PST on Nov 26, 2011

That was a very informative video, thanks for sharing!

send a green star

Sheri P.

3:43PM PST on Nov 17, 2011

ridiculous the kind of things manufacturers put into health and beauty products...especially ones that are used on babies and children. inexcusable! and for what purpose?

James B.

6:10PM PST on Nov 9, 2011

ouch

Irene P.

12:41PM PST on Nov 9, 2011

Big companies trying to kill us off!

Gale T.

7:41AM PST on Nov 9, 2011

What are they thinking putting that crap in there.

Miranda L.

10:36AM PST on Nov 7, 2011

Why not? There's crap in everything consumed so freely in this country...in the food eaten, in the liquids drunk, in the soaps and shampoos and creams used...so why should we think products marketed for babies would be any different?

Shailja M.

11:13PM PST on Nov 6, 2011

As an OBGYN RESIDENT IN NYC, i learned that over 200 toxins have been found in cord blood, means baby was exposed to at minimum 200 toxic chemicals in utero, prior to birth.
Perhaps shift back to nature, avaiding chemicals/ addatives in food, back to organics, and addatives in creams / shampoo/ hair color/ makeup can be avoided!!

i encourage a vege life, organic, minimal chemicals, avoiding processed foods, etc!!

June R.

7:30PM PST on Nov 6, 2011

Thanks for sharing. We all should be aware that there are chemicals in adult shampoos that are also harmful. E.G. Sodium Laureth Sulphate stuff that is used to clean rugs /carpets
READ YOUR LABELS

Lisa A.

6:20AM PST on Nov 6, 2011

What I reccomend instead of "main stream" baby shampoo is Dr. Bronner's Castile liquid soap. You can get it on discount over at vitacost.com and many healthfood stores also carry it. It's not expensive, and a little goes a long way. It comes in 32 oz, 16 oz and 8 oz.. There are no chemical fillers in it and only genuine essential oils are used for each scent. Peppermint may be too harsh for a baby, but they have one that is non scented, and also almond scent, rose scent, eucalyptus, sweet orange, tea tree oil , etc. I believe there may one with a baby oil scent.

6:15AM PST on Nov 6, 2011

Why, you ask? Because they can use cheap chemical byproducts where noone would suspect, and still make $$ on it. Because chances are these toxins will weed out the "weak" and help cull the populations without arising public suspicion. Because if these toxins don't cause a chronic illness like cancer in the genetically weak, they will help establish long term chronic conditions in the child so that this child will always be dependent on the pharmacuetical companies as one condition snowballs into another one. This is how those on top think-- what the masses don't know, that much the better.