What?!? Not everything in a product  is listed on an ingredient label? There could be other harmful stuff in my products that isn’t even included on the ingredient list?

What's not on the ingredient label - contaminants in your products and what to look out for

What is a contaminant?

These are harmful ingredients that are within the product, but they’re not listed in the ingredients. Why aren’t they listed? Technically they’re not an ingredient, they contaminate the ingredients in the product. 

For example heavy metals as discussed in Episode 14.

How do we know about contaminants?

Baby products are often called “safe and gentle” but some independent research by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has shown that they’re not necessarily as safe or gentle as you’d think.

61% of baby products tested contained both 1, 4 dioxane and formaldehyde

82% contained formaldehyde at levels ranging from 54 to 610 parts per million 

67% contained 1,4-dioxane at levels ranging from 0.27 to 35 ppm 
What’s worse? Many of the babies and children’s products  also contain other ingredients with known or suspected links to cancer or other serious health problems - harmful chemicals in the bath may be adding up. 

Plus, we know that 1, 4 dioxane and formaldehyde are easily absorbed through the skin and are known and probable carcinogens.

What brands were tested? 

Brands like American Girl, Aveeno, Mustela, L’Oreal, Banana Boat and others.

1, 4 dioxins is banned in the European Union and if 1, 4 dioxane is found in the product, the manufacturer is required to recall the product. Formaldehyde is strictly regulated by the European Union.

Often these manufacturers will have two versions of a product. One that fulfills EU standards and one that is made for the US. In fact, these contaminants are easy to remove, but the manufacturers choose not to do it. 

Ugh!

Are you frustrated, pissed, mad, and upset yet?

I do a deeper dive in the podcast, so listen in.

You can read more in these reports from The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics:

No More Toxic Tub

Baby’s Tub is Still Toxic

If you’re curious about what safe products to use, join my Facebook group, Detox by Design Insiders, where I share my favorites.