Stancie Wilson
With planning and prep a buzz for North America’s largest natural products showcase Expo West next week, the Organic Consumer Association just announced that on Friday, March 6th, they’ll announce follow-up test results to the dioxane 1,4 results they released last year. This study raised many questions about whether some products labeled “organic” and/or “natural” really are and brought to light what the OCA called “deceptive organic branding” and accused some big name brands of containing carcinogenic ingredients.
OCA is strategically holding the conference in Anaheim, California during Expo West in hopes of putting the issue back in the spotlight. They’ll announce follow-up test results to the study that analyzes leading major “natural” and “organic” brands as well as conventional shampoos, body wash, dish soap and cleaning products that come in contact with skin. Bodycote Testing Group, an independent third-party lab, known for its rigorous testing performed all tests.
The results are said to show improvements from sixteen major brands that were unveiled in the initial results last year, but the OCA pledges to keep up the pressure until every brand claiming to be “natural” or “organic” removes 1,4-dioxane and other carcinogenic or problematic chemicals from their products.
EVENT DETAILS
WHO: David Steinman, Environmental Health Consumer Advocate
Ronnie Cummins, Executive Director, Organic Consumers Association
WHAT: Press conference on 1,4-dioxane in “Natural” and “Organic” Personal Care and Household Cleaning Products
WHEN: Friday, March 6, 2009, 9:00 a.m. PST to coincide with the Natural Products Expo West
WHERE: Anaheim Hilton, 777 Convention Way, Anaheim CA, 92802, Coronado Room 4th Floor
BACKGROUND
Ethoxylation, a cheap shortcut companies use to provide mildness to harsh cleaning ingredients, requires the use of the cancer-causing petrochemical ethylene oxide, which generates 1,4-dioxane as a byproduct. 1,4-dioxane is considered a chemical “known to the State of California to cause cancer” under proposition 65, and has no place in “natural” or “organic” branded personal care products. 1,4-dioxane is also suspected as a kidney toxicant, neurotoxicant and respiratory toxicant, among others, according to the California EPA, and is a significant groundwater contaminant. While previous studies have revealed the presence of 1,4-dioxane in “natural” and conventional products, this latest study shows the toxin is being significantly reduced as brands reformulate.
Photo Credit: perseverando via Flickr
