Not So Clean Products
March 19, 2008
Posted by CindyC in : Opinions & Thoughts , trackback
After I loaded my dishwasher with dirty dishes, I read my daily news; among the news items were study results that found carcinogenic chemicals in some of the most popular brands in natural and organic personal care products.
Based on the study conducted by the OTA (Organic Trade Association), of the 100 products tested, over half contained 1,4 Dioxane – which is “a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer”. What shocked me the most are the offenders on the list: Seventh Generation, Ecover, Planet, Giovanni - all considered leaders in natural products. However, a brand like Clorox Green Works, which I consider as “green washed” was free of dioxane.
These days, you can’t walk down the household or personal care isle without seeing the ALL NATURAL, ECO-FRIENDLY and ORGANIC claims. Part of the problem is that several years back, the FDA ruled that personal care products do not fall under their supervision. Since then, countless unsubstantiated claims have graced product packaging. Hey, if there’s no oversight and no punishment, why wouldn’t companies want to take a free ride on the “green” money train?
I’ve used many of these products in my home. I try to read labels carefully and avoid products with lots of unpronounceable ingredients or items containing laureth, PEG or polyethylene. However, I can’t avoid things that are not on the labels. The OTA suggests using only items are USDA certified organic but that list is limited. I have made some of my own cleaners but not all – unless someone knows how to make dishwasher liquid. I know these results focused on one chemical and there’s always a trade-off in everything we buy. But I feel betrayed by these manufacturers that I trusted and have recommended to others. I guess I will have to raise my due diligence level and hope the OTA’s law suit threat will get these manufacturers to clean up their act. Sigh…
You can find the full product list within the press release.
CindyC at Organicpicks
If you enjoyed this entry, please subscribe to the Organic Picks Blog
Copyright 2007 Organicpicks
Find More Green Products & Reviews..
Comments»
Oh my gosh. I had the same exact thought when I saw that Clorox Green Works was okay! Jeez.
I also had to do a double-take @ Publix when I saw Clorox and Green on the same label! I currently use Burt’s Bees shampoo and really have reached the end of my rope with finding a product that isn’t tainted with 1,4-Dioxane…what does one use?
What! I’ve used these products and thought I was doing the right thing. I guess you really can’t trust anything you don’t make yourself. Thanks for the heads up!
I was irritated to read this list…can’t trust anything or anyone. I guess I am going to make every thing I want to use from scratch.
On the other hand, I don’t know anything about 1,4dioxane. Sure it causes cancer, but so does the sun. Everyone doesn’t sit around in their homes all day avoiding it though.
I use ecover dish washing soap because I liked the fact that it was “biodegradeable”..but I just read that lifelessplastic.blogspot.com uses a Dr. Bronner’s bar soap to do the dishes and I think I might give it a go.
Rockaroo: one of the blogs (forget which one) mentioned that Burt’s Bees has a shampoo bar that comes in a cardboard box. I purchased one last night as I am running out of my bottle of shampoo and didn’t want to buy any plastic.