For more than two-and-a-half-years, Johnson & Johnson has known about the deep concern the public has expressed regarding the potentially cancer-causing chemicals found in their baby shampoo.
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reported in 2009 that studies conducted by an independent lab in California (Analytical Sciences, LLC) found that Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, Oatmeal Baby Wash and Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Creamy Wash, contain 1,4-dioxane, considered to be carcinogenic. The other chemical is quaternium-15, which is a preservative that kills bacteria by releasing formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is used as a disinfectant and embalming fluid. In June formaldehyde was declared a human carcinogen by the U.S. National Toxicology Program. Yet these chemicals remain in Johnson’s baby shampoo in the United States, Canada, China, Indonesia and Australia. It is not found in the products sold in at least eight other countries including the U.K., Denmark, Japan and South Africa. So why can’t they sell these carcinogenic-free products to us?!
Johnson & Johnson was sent a stern letter signed by about 25 environmental, medical and other groups that represent about 3.5 million people in the U.S. and other countries. It is asking Johnson & Johnson to make a public commitment by November 15th to remove these dangerous chemicals from all their baby products worldwide, not just in Japan and the U.K. The point is, as Lisa Archer, director of Campaign for Safer Cosmetics said, “Johnson & Johnson clearly can make safer baby shampoo in all the markets around the world, but it’s not doing it. It’s clearly a double standard, something they can easily fix.” She also said, “clearly, there is no need for Johnson & Johnson to expose babies to a known carcinogen when the company is already making safer alternatives. All babies deserve safer products.”
Johnson & Johnson has since launched a baby shampoo called Johnson’s Naturals, sold in the U.S. that does not contain 1,4-dioxane, which costs twice as much as the original baby shampoo.
It is ridiculous and inexcusable that such a giant company like Johnson & Johnson can be fully aware that the public is strongly opposed to using baby products containing carcinogenic chemicals and does nothing about it for two-and-a-half-years until it is virtually forced into making a change.
The coalition is urging consumers to boycott Johnson & Johnson baby products until they remove these carcinogenic chemicals from their baby products sold around the world.
