Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: Remove Toxic Traces from Shampoo

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Two months after it identified dozens of brands of children's shampoos and other bath products that have trace amounts of formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has targeted one of the largest manufacturers in an effort to have the chemicals removed.

In a letter (pdf) to Johnson & Johnson this week, the group asked the company to "remove these chemicals and switch to safer alternatives," noting that the company already sells products free of formaldehyde in Japan, as required by law.

Johnson & Johnson responded by noting that the chemicals are present as a result of disinfection and preservation processes, which allow their products to stay on the shelves longer without risk of contamination by bacteria.

In its March report, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found:

• Of 48 products tested, 67% had 1,4-dioxane.
• Of 28 products tested, 82% had formaldehyde.

Below is a list of results:

Brands That Tested Positive for 1,4 Dioxane

*According to The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

• Baby Magic "Soft Baby Scent" Baby Lotion (Ascendia Brands, Inc)
• CVS Baby Shampoo (CVS/Pharmacy)
• Johnson’s Baby Shampoo (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies)
• L'Oreal Kids Extra Gentle 2-in-1 Fast Dry Shampoo – Burst of Cool Melon (L’Oreal USA)
• Suave Kids 2-in-1 Shampoo – Wild Watermelon (Unilever)
• American Girl Hopes and Dreams Glistening Shower and Bath Wash (Bath & Body Works)
• American Girl Real Beauty Inside and Out Shower Gel – Apple Blossom (Bath & Body Works)
• American Girl Real Beauty Inside and Out Shower Gel – Apple Blossom (Bath & Body Works)
• American Girl Real Beauty Inside and Out Shower Gel – Apple Blossom (Bath & Body Works)
• American Girl Real Beauty Inside and Out Shower Gel – Sunny Orange (Bath & Body Works)
• Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Creamy Wash (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies)
• Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Creamy Wash (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies)
• Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Creamy Wash (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies)
• CVS Kids Body Wash – Blueberry Blast (CVS/Pharmacy)
• Equate Tearless Baby Wash (Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.)
• Gentle Naturals Eczema Baby Wash (Del Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
• Grins & Giggles Milk & Honey Baby Wash (Gerber Products Company)
• Huggies Naturally Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea Baby Wash (Kimberly-Clark)
• Johnson’s Moisture Care Baby Wash (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies)
• Johnson’s Oatmeal Baby Wash – Vanilla (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies)
• Mustela Baby Shampoo (Laboratories Expanscience)
• Mustela Dermo-Cleansing Gel for Hair and Body Newborn/Baby (Laboratories Expanscience)
• Night-time Bath Baby Wash (Target Corporation)
• Barbie Berry Sweet Bubble Bath (Water-Jel Technologies)
• Dora the Explorer Bubble Bath (MZB Personal Care)
• Hot Wheels Berry Blast Bubble Bath (Water-Jel Technologies)
• Mustela Multi-Sensory Bubble Bath (Laboratories Expanscience)
• Sesame Street Bubble Bath – Orange Mango Tango (The Village Company)
• Tinker Bell Scented Bubble Bath (Goldie LLC)
• Soft & Beautiful Just for Me! No-Lye Conditioning Creme Relaxer, Children’s Super (Alberto-Culver Company)
• Pampers Kandoo Foaming Handsoap – Magic Melon (Procter & Gamble)
• No-Ad Sun Pals SPF 45 UVA/UVB Sun Protection (Solar Cosmetics Labs Inc.)

Brands That Tested Positive for Formaldehyde

*According to The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

• American Girl Hopes and Dreams Shimmer Body Lotion (Bath & Body Works)
• Baby Magic "Soft Baby Scent" Baby Lotion (Ascendia Brands, Inc)
• Baby Magic "Soft Baby Scent" Baby Lotion (Ascendia Brands, Inc)
• Baby Magic "Soft Baby Scent" Baby Lotion (Ascendia Brands, Inc)
• Tinker Bell Body Lotion (Goldie LLC)
• CVS Baby Shampoo (CVS/Pharmacy)
• Johnson’s Baby Shampoo (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies)
• Johnson’s Baby Shampoo (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies)
• L’Oreal Kids Extra Gentle 2-in-1 Fast Dry Shampoo – Burst of Cool Melon (L’Oreal USA)
• American Girl Real Beauty Inside and Out Shower Gel – Apple Blossom (Bath & Body Works)
• American Girl Real Beauty Inside and Out Shower Gel – Apple Blossom (Bath & Body Works)
• American Girl Real Beauty Inside and Out Shower Gel – Apple Blossom (Bath & Body Works)
• CVS Kids Body Wash – Blueberry Blast (CVS/Pharmacy)
• Equate Tearless Baby Wash (Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.)
• Gentle Naturals Eczema Baby Wash (Del Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
• Grins & Giggles Milk & Honey Baby Wash (Gerber Products Company)
• Huggies Naturally Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea Baby Wash (Kimberly-Clark)
• Barbie Berry Sweet Bubble Bath (Water-Jel Technologies)
• Dora the Explorer Bubble Bath (MZB Personal Care)
• Sesame Street Bubble Bath – Orange Mango Tango (The Village Company)
• Tinker Bell Scented Bubble Bath (Goldie LLC)
• Hot Wheels Berry Blast Bubble Bath (Water-Jel Technologies)
• Mustela Multi-Sensory Bubble Bath (Laboratories Expanscience)
• Huggies Soft Skin – Shea Butter (Kimberly-Clark Global Sales Inc)
• Pampers Kandoo Foaming Handsoap – Magic Melon (Procter & Gamble)

Brands That Had Neither 1,4-Dioxane Nor Formaldehyde

Note that several brands were tested for only one of the two chemicals; consult the the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics report to see those brands that tested clean for the one chemical tested.

• Dark & Lovely Kids Beautiful Beginnings No-Mistake Nourishing No-Lye Children’s Relaxer System, Fine Hair Types (SoftSheen-Carson, owned by L’Oreal USA)

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