| I’m always harping on about reading labels. I know it is difficult to read labels while shopping with kids. Who has time to read the label on each product with 2 kids tugging on you, demanding to go to the toy section right now! At least, that is what happens to me if I am shopping at Target. So, not only is it hard to have time to read labels while shopping, it is even harder to figure out what the label says. How do you read a label? They can be a little tricky to decipher. And what about the claims on the packaging? Can you trust them?
Well, let’s look at a baby staple. Johnson’s Head-to-Toe baby wash from Johnson & Johnson. And let’s hope I don’t get sued.
First, let’s look at the claims. The website advertises the product as “an ultra-mild cleanser for your baby’s skin and hair that’s gentle enough even for newborns.” It also proclaims it “the #1 choice of hospitals” and “milder than baby soap.” The “no more tears” formula is “as gentle to the eyes as pure water” and the product is “soap-free, dye-free, hypoallergenic and allergy- and dermatologist-tested.”
 None of these claims, including hypoallergenic, allergy-tested and dermatologist-tested have any regulatory meaning. Keep in mind that, according to the Food & Drug Administration, a cosmetic company does not have to prove its claims or the efficacy of the products. There is no regulatory definition of “hypoallergenic” - you think it means that the product will not cause allergic reactions or irritant responses. Keep that thought in mind when we discuss the ingredients. A company can label a product as “hypoallergenic” without having any proof to back up that claim. There are no standardized guidelines for this claim, just as there are no guidelines for dermatologist tested or allergy tested.
Before we can talk about the claim that the product is “as gentle to the eyes as pure water,” we need to talk about the ingredients. The ingredients are: Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG-150 Distearate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Polyquaternium-10, Fragrance, Quaternium-15, Citric Acid.
PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate and PEG-150 Distearate are all ethoxylated compounds. Ethoxylated compounds, unless vacuum stripped, are contaminated with 1,4-dioxane. 1,4-dioxane has been identified as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 1,4-dioxane is not listed on the ingredient list because it is a contaminant from the manufacturing process, not an ingredient. The FDA encourages manufacturers to remove 1,4-dioxane from products, but there is no requirement that it be done. And, testing reported by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics did find 1,4-dioxane in Johnson’s Head-to-Toe baby wash at 5.3 to 6.1 parts per million (ppm). In fact, in its FAQ section of its website, Johnson & Johnson admits that “[s]ome of the ingredients in our products may contain 1,4-dioxane as an incidental ingredient at extremely low levels.”
Further, sodium laureth sulfate can cause eye and skin irritation. Do you think that is consistent with the claim that the product is “hypoallergenic”? Wouldn’t you expect it to be free of any ingredient known to cause irritant responses? As a note, sodium laureth sulfate was widely reported on the web as being a carcinogen, but, at least to date, research by the EPA, OSHA, NTP and IARC has not suggested that sodium laureth sulfate is a carcinogen.
Cocamidopropyl betaine, PEG-80 sorbitan laurate and PEG-150 disterate can all cause allergic reactions. Again, these ingredients aren’t what you would expect in a product advertising itself as hypoallergenic. Cocamidopropyl betaine may also be contaminated with nitrosamines.
Quaternium-15 may release formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen. But, I actually think that Quat-15, as it is called, is more of a problem because it is the number one cause of contact dermatitis from preservatives, according to the American Acadmey of Dermatology’s Testing Tray results. Also, it is identified by the cosmetic industry’s Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel as a sensitizer, but is still considered safe by the CIR as a cosmetic ingredient. (If you want to learn about the function of the CIR, I encourage you to read Stacy Malkan’s Not Just A Pretty Face). It has also been linked to birth defects in laboratory animals when administered orally.
Finally, the product contains “fragrance” – which means synthetic fragrance and, of course, phthalates. Phthalates are used in fragrance to sustain the fragrance and make it adsorb better to the skin. Johnson & Johnson admits that it uses diethyl phthalate (DEP) in its baby products. And, as reported in a recent study, exposure to DEP in baby care products results in the presence of a DEP metabolite in baby urine. Phthalates are endocrine disruptors, which means that they can mimic hormones and disrupt’s the body’s normal function. Phthalates have been linked to premature breast development in girls, deteriorated sperm quality, low sperm counts and poor sperm morphology in men, and a host of other adverse health effects.
So, how can this product claim to be “as gentle to the eyes are pure water” when it contains a host of chemicals known to be irritants, allergens or sensitizers? And do you really want to use it on your baby? I think that this staple baby product should be thrown out with the bath water. But, hey, that’s just me.
If you are looking for phthlate free baby care products, I have some listed here.
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I’m trying to convert all of my household products into truly green alternatives. I never buy that Clorox “green” stuff…I have trouble believing a chemical company! It’s good to know that they don’t need to backup hypoallergenic claims, that’s pretty scary :S
I get a lot of my stuff on Etsy, but even there you have to make sure to check up on ingredients. I’ve accidentally bought soap and shampoo with SLS in it, because I just assumed it wouldn’t.
For surface cleaners I just use a mixture of water and vinegar with some essential oil for a nice fragrance.
Sorry for the novel there!!
Great novel! I never thought to about Etsy! Good idea.
We love Green Beaver products (soaps and toothpaste) and some of the Nature Clean line.
Great info! Ever since I found the cosmetic safety database at Environmental Working Group’s site (http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/), I’ve been phasing out all the products we’ve used and either making or buying better alternatives. A fabulous book for making your own (better, less expensive!) household cleaners is Clean House, Clean Planet (http://tinyurl.com/y8epxo). Can’t recommend it enough!
I get EVERYTHING on Etsy! Soap, shampoo, deodorant, laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, makeup. I got a toothpaste powder on there that I can’t quite adjust to. Is the Green Beaver stuff a paste?
just so you know, johnson and johnson baby shampoo and body wash are wonderful at killing fleas on cats and dogs, i use it on my cats.
now think about that and try to use it on your baby, it really doesnt seem right.
i have never used j n j on zoey, its really scary stuff.
The link for the phthlate free baby care products isn’t working for me…
wow, that article is amazingly informative. i knew a product that claimed to be so perfect had to be hiding something. thanks twwly!
For the majority of my personal care products I use the Druide line. http://www.druide.ca/catalogue/default.php?language=en They originated in Montreal, and I can buy them at Home Hardware, of all places.
Link is now fixed!!
Another tidbit, and very preliminary, but there may be a linkage between phthalates and autism.
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=link-between-autism-and-vinyl
ugh. i hate J&J, but you already knew that!
we now use tooth soap or eco dent for brushing teeth, ACV for washing and conditioning hair and diluted dr. bronners as soap.
for laundry detergent i sometimes use soap nuts.
for household cleaning i use vinegar, baking soda, water, dr. bronner, TTO and sometimes some borax in various proportions. i got most my recipes from clean house, clean planet.
for furniture polish: olive oil and lemon essential oil.
for deodorant, i make my own funk butter using baking soda, arrow root powder, kaolin clay, almond il and shea butter.
maybe i should start selling this stuff on etsy??
You have successfully freaked me out! I use that crap on my little one every bath! YIKES!! Thank you so much for the info, into the trash it goes! It also wakes me up big time to be more proactive when it comes to reading the labels!
Hope your spring is going well so far!
~M~
love your blog, just found it + had to comment.
luckily i was hip to this whole weird thing before my twins came along in january… i don’t use much on them, they just pop in the shower with dad, who rinses them down well with water. it works. the only product i really use on them is the weleda calendula diaper rash creme when i see any redness – know of a better alternative that i can make at home?
and have you ever tried making cold-process soap? it’s absurdly easy. the husband and i make a batch every couple of months and that’s what we use… i don’t add any scent. just coconut, olive and palm oils, lye and water. buying nice soap can get expensive. i was deathly afraid of the lye for a long time, but it’s really no big deal. i make it in my stand mixer.
Along with the cosmetic database, I check the ‘sister site’ for household product toxicity.
http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=16003606
Scary shite when you take the time to sit down and think about it!
Vinegar, baking soda and lemons are my best friends when cleaning.
e – I also just found this baby bum stuff on etsy,
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_3&listing_id=23528441&ga_search_query=essential+oils&ga_search_type=tag_title&ga_page=3&min=&max=&order=
I will never use anything by J&J on Adelaide… I once used some of their “sensitive” wipes as I was in a hurry and didn’t think to read the ingredients or anything, and they brought her out in a nappy rash so bad it bled. It literally came out of nowhere.
Speaking of reading the ingredients, I have finally started weening Adelaide onto ‘real’ food… she LOVES it but I am definitely much more aware of what the premade stuff contains… I try to give her home made stuff wherever possible, but sometimes I get caught short but I was really disturbed to see jars of 1st stage baby food in the States that was actually pureed veal!!!
e-
can you please tell me a little more about cold process soap. i am really interested in learning to make my own soaps.
thanks so much!
i use the basic recipe from this book (which is great):
http://www.amazon.com/Soapmakers-Companion-Comprehensive-Techniques-Know-How/dp/0882669656/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239656386&sr=8-1
it’s really not hard. you measure out your fats, heat and bring to temperature. mix lye with water, and allow to cool to temperature. once they’re both the right temp, you mix them together, stirring continuously until it thickens to the right point. pour into molds, insulate to keep warm 24 hrs, cut your bars and let cure for maybe a month. you can buy lye + oils in mega-bulk for cheap online. i don’t bother scenting my soap, so it just smells fresh + clean – fine for everyday use! if you have any q’s, feel free to email!
I would love to know where you’re buying lye & oils for cheap online, please name your source! Ive had soapmaking on my list of things to do for a while now, this is the push I needed.
http://www.aaa-chemicals.com/
not sure if they deliver to canada?
you really need to do it. if you can make cheese, you can totally make soap! definitely get that book if you do – it’s inexpensive and has great directions.
ha! i was just watching the latest episode of family guy on hulu.com and they totally show J&J as evil, putting the ‘no more tears’ label on while laughing cause they know it stings like hell!!!!
[...] I am shivering my ass off in 10 minutes). And the parents who tell their children the NO-STING shampoo doesn’t sting (it really and truly DOES sting, go ahead, put some in your eyes if you [...]
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