A cancer causing compound called 1,4-dioxane has been found in some of the most commonly used cosmetics. The study was conducted by the Organic Consumers Association (www.OrganicConsumers.org). It sought to determine the levels of 1,4-Dioxane in 100 different consumer products ranging from dish soaps to shower gels.

Here is a list of some of the contaminated products: Kiss My Face, Nutribiotic, Jason, Ecover, Citrus Magic, 365, Alba, Lifetree, Giovanni, Seventh Generation, Method, Earth Friendly Products, Sea-Chi Organics and many other brands. Here is a list of the companies whose products were found to be free of 1,4-Dioxane: Dr. Bronner’s, Aubrey Organics, Burt’s Bees, Desert Essence, Dr. Hauschka, EO, TerrEssential, Zia Fresh, Avalon Organics and other companies.

Some companies had products in both categories, meaning some of their products were found to be contaminated with 1,4-Dioxane while other products from the same company were found to be free of 1,4-Dioxane. These companies included Alba, Jason, Kiss my Face, Method, Nature’s Gate, Origins, Shikai and others.

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List of Brands that Contain 1,4-Dioxane

Fact Sheet: What is 1,4-Dioxane?

Petition to Stop the Bogus “Organic” OASIS Standard (PDF)

The Real Truth!

What’s really happening is that large holding companies are buying up numerous brands when they become well known, then cheapening the formulations and introducing toxic chemicals. So brands that once started out as honest, small company brands have become mega corporation toxic chemical brands. And they still have the name ‘organic’ or ‘natural’ on their products! In my view, this is criminal. These companies are deceiving the public and harming the health of individuals who thought they were buying organic.

What’s at stake here, friends, is the integrity of the entire organic products industry. We must either defend the integrity of the ‘organic’ label, or it will be lost to greedy corporations who literally want ‘organic’ to mean whatever they say it does. This is why I’m speaking out so boldly about this issue: It’s about protecting your families, friends, your babies and your own health from the greedy multinational companies that are trying to jump on the ‘organic’ bandwagon even while continuing to put toxic chemicals into their products.

Inform yourself. Protect your family. Learn the truth about which products you can really trust (Dr. Bronner’s is one of my favorites) and which products were found to contain this toxic chemical (like the Jason brand of personal care products).

Let’s be honest here, many of the so-called ‘organic’ product companies are frauds. They put the word ‘organic’ or ‘natural’ in their company name or product names, but in reality, they’re using cheap, low-grade, contaminated ingredients that actually promote cancer. These companies should be ashamed of their behavior.

I urge OrganicJar readers to boycott the companies whose products were found to be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane. When these companies apologize for their behavior, recall their products, and reformulate their products to be free of this cancer-causing chemical, then we can lift the boycott on their products. But for now, I urge all OrganicJar readers to boycott the Jason brand of products, Earth Friendly Products, Alba, Method, Giovanni and even Nutribiotic. These companies need to clean up their act and eliminate 1,4-dioxane from their consumer products.

There is no excuse for putting ‘natural’ products on the market that are contaminated with 1,4-dioxane. These companies have been caught like Gov. Spitzer, except that their products are screwing everybody! In the mean time, use the soap I’ve recommended: Dr. Bronner’s. There no soap more honest, pure and natural.

Read below for more detailed about this breaking story…

What is 1,4-Dioxane?

1,4-dioxane (or just dioxane) is a clear, colorless, organic compound that’s liquid at room temperature and is a known human carcinogen. It’s classified as an ether and is a known eye and respiratory tract irritant that readily penetrates the skin. The chemical is primarily used in solvent applications during manufacturing. Most notably, it appears as an accidental byproduct of the ethoxylation process in cosmetics manufacturing. It often appears as a chemical contaminant in cosmetics and personal care products such as deodorants, shampoos, toothpastes and mouthwashes.

Fact Sheet: What is 1,4-Dioxane?

Cancer-Causing Chemicals in ‘Organic’ and ‘Natural’ Products:

What these recent findings by the Organic Consumers Association reveal, however, is that 1,4-Dioxane is not only found in conventional consumer care products; it’s also found in so-called ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ products. Even the Whole Foods 365 brand was found to be contaminated with 1,4-Dioxane, along with the Jason brand, Kiss My Face and many others.

This is a great disservice to the natural products industry and the consumers who support the industry. When consumers shop for ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ products, they pay a premium, and they expect those products to be free of cancer-causing chemical contaminants like 1,4-Dioxane.

These findings underscore the importance of researching the companies and products you’re buying, even if they claim to be ‘organic’ or ‘natural.’

How to Tell if They’re Safe

How can consumers tell if products are truly free from 1,4-Dioxane? All the products tested that carried the USDA Organic seal of approval were found to be free from 1,4-Dioxane. So looking for the USDA certified organic seal is currently the best way to protect yourself from this cancer-causing chemical.

Also, the OCA has urged consumers to read ingredient labels, and avoid all consumer care products made with the following ingredients (or words in the ingredients):

• Myreth
• Oleth
• Laureth
• Cateareth (or other “eth”)
• PEG
• Polyethylene
• Polethylene Glycol
• Polyoxyethylene
• Oxynol

Zero Safety Testing Required for Cosmetic Ingredients

The FDA currently does not require safety testing of cosmetic products or their ingredients. The cosmetic industry polices the safety of its own products, and this safety panel is run and funded by the industry’s trade association. In other words, very little testing actually occurs because the government does not mandate this testing, and potentially hazardous ingredients can slip through the cracks. There is also no financial incentive for the cosmetic industry to raise questions about the safety of its own products.

Contamination with 1,4 dioxane is shockingly widespread. It is found in:

• 97% of hair relaxers
• 82% of hair dyes and bleaching
• 66% of hair removers
• 57% of baby soap
• 45% of sunless tanning products
• 43% of body firming lotion
• 36% of hormonal creams
• 36% of facial moisturizers
• 35% of anti-aging products
• 34% of body lotion
• 33% of around-eye creams

I strongly recommend that consumers choose products free of these chemicals and impurities. To avoid 1,4-dioxane, read the ingredients and avoid any of the 56 cosmetic ingredients that can contain the contaminant, including “sodium laureth sulfate” and ingredients whose names include “PEG,” “xynol,” “ceteareth,” and “oleth.”

Sources: naturalnews.com