J&J baby shampoo TOXIC???

[Jen1]

Wow, I never heard this before, but this story is on local news.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has unsuccessfully been urging the world's largest health care company for 2 1/2 years to remove the trace amounts of potentially cancer-causing chemicals - dioxane and a substance called quaternium-15 that releases formaldehyde - from Johnson's Baby Shampoo, one of its signature products.

Johnson & Johnson said it is reducing or gradually phasing out the chemicals, but did not respond directly to the campaign's demands.

I can tell you this, though. I am glad I am not using these anymore, but definatly won't be buying any, even if it's free.

[abond0017]

"1,4-Dioxane

July 3, 2007
What is 1,4-dioxane?
Is 1,4-dioxane in cosmetic products harmful?
What is FDA doing to assure that cosmetics do not contain unsafe levels of 1,4-dioxane?
FDA has received questions on the subject of 1,4-dioxane, a contaminant that may occur in trace amounts in certain cosmetics. The following information has been compiled from responses to those questions, from the published scientific literature, and other public sources.
What is 1,4-dioxane?

The compound 1,4-dioxane is a contaminant that may be present in extremely small amounts in some cosmetics. It forms as a byproduct during the manufacturing process of certain cosmetic ingredients. These ingredients include certain detergents, foaming agents, emulsifiers and solvents identifiable by the prefix, word, or syllables "PEG," "Polyethylene," "Polyethylene glycol," "Polyoxyethylene," "-eth-," or "-oxynol-." However, 1,4-dioxane itself is not used as a cosmetic ingredient.

Is 1,4-dioxane in cosmetic products harmful?

The levels at which a chemical compound would be considered harmful in a cosmetic depend on the conditions of use (FD&C Act, section 601(a)). The 1,4-dioxane levels we have seen in our monitoring of cosmetics do not present a hazard to consumers.
Concerns initially were raised in the 1970s, when studies at the National Cancer Institute found an association between1,4-dioxane and cancer in animals when 1,4-dioxane was administered in high levels in the animal feed. However, the levels in cosmetic products are far lower than those found to be harmful in feeding studies and, for the most part, the types of products in which it is found are only in contact with the skin for a short time.
As a precaution, FDA followed up with skin absorption studies, which showed that 1,4-dioxane can penetrate animal and human skin when applied in certain preparations, such as lotions. However, further research by FDA determined that 1,4-dioxane evaporates readily, further diminishing the already small amount available for skin absorption, even in products that remain on the skin for hours. (Robert L. Bronaugh, "Percutaneous Absorption of Cosmetic Ingredients," in Principles of Cosmetics for the Dermatologist, Philip Frost, M.D., and Steven Horwitz, M.D., Eds. St. Louis: The C.V. Mosby Company, 1982)

What is FDA doing to assure that cosmetics do not contain unsafe levels of 1,4-dioxane?

FDA has been monitoring this issue since the late 1970s. We periodically monitor the levels of 1,4-dioxane in cosmetic products, and have observed that the changes made in the manufacturing process have resulted in a significant decline in the levels of this contaminant. (Roderick E. Black, Fred J. Hurley and Donald C. Havery, "Occurrence of 1,4-Dioxane in Cosmetic Raw Materials and Finished Cosmetic Products," Journal of AOAC International, 84 (3), 2001, pp. 666-667)
FDA has not established or recommended a specific limit on the level of 1,4-dioxane in cosmetics. We have provided guidance to manufacturers alerting them to the health concerns and how to minimize 1,4-dioxane by means of a process called "vacuum stripping" at the end of the polymerization process. This information has been posted on our Web site in the Cosmetic Handbook for Industry: Cosmetic Product-Related Regulatory Requirements and Health Hazard Issues. We also provide FDA inspectors with information on this procedure in our Guide to Inspections of Cosmetic Product Manufacturers so that when they conduct inspections they will know what to look for and what questions to ask.
If FDA were to determine that a health hazard exists, it would advise the industry and the public, and would consider its legal options for protecting the health and welfare of consumers.

For more on the subject of cosmetic safety and the law, see FDA Authority Over Cosmetics, Key Legal Concepts: "Interstate Commerce," "Adulterated," and "Misbranded", and the cosmetics provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act."




1,4-Dioxane

[foggierbard9]

Well I also just heard that their "no more tears" is because they put a numbing agent in the product, so it isn't that it doesn't irritate/hurt, they just numb the kid so they don't feel it.

[abond0017]

The above is from the FDA's website. Not sure if I would still be comfortable using it, as I have a love hate relationship with the FDA.

[stacymarieb]

Thanks for posting this. I don't think I will be using their shampoo anymore....I wonder if it is the same for the Head to Toe baby wash?

[qponmomma]

Being a hairdresser I have heard the buzz about this shampoo about the numbing agents being in it for the tearless...which I think is awful, but that being said since I am a hairdresser and have access to salon shampoo at discount prices, I use the Paul Mitchell baby shampoo, but i think it's worth it even at $8-$10 a bottle because it is not as watered down and lasts a very long time considering babies usually don't have much hair.

[cpaige]

Being a hairdresser I have heard the buzz about this shampoo about the numbing agents being in it for the tearless...which I think is awful, but that being said since I am a hairdresser and have access to salon shampoo at discount prices, I use the Paul Mitchell baby shampoo, but i think it's worth it even at $8-$10 a bottle because it is not as watered down and lasts a very long time considering babies usually don't have much hair.

I didn't even know Paul Mitchell made a baby shampoo!! I'm going to have to look for it