 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Non-USDA Certified Products Labeled "Organic" Found to Contain Carcinogen 1,4-Dioxane
|
|
|||
|
|
|
Anaheim, CA -- The earth shook here at the country's largest convention for natural products when the Organic Consumers Association and environmentalist David Steinman, author of The Safe Shopper's Bible, revealed the results of an independent analysis of a wide range of so-called "natural" and "organic" personal care and household products. Nearly 55% of the non-USDA-organic compliant products purchased at a natural foods market for testing proved to be contaminated by 1,4-dioxane, a byproduct of petrochemical manufacturing and a known carcinogen. Laboratory tests showed that products certified under the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) did not contain 1,4-dioxane, but most of the best selling personal care products claiming to be "organic" (but not USDA certified) did contain the cancer-causing ingredient. Steinman said "For companies to knowingly or even carelessly put a carcinogen into commerce in this day and age is barbaric, I think, particularly products that have the moniker of natural or self-proclaimed 'organic.'" "There is promising news, too: virtually all cosmetic and personal care products that bear organic certification seals issued by the USDA...were free from this contaminant." Steinman commended Terressentials, referring to them as "Green Patriots," for refusal to use petrochemicals as ingredients in products called "organic." "Consumers should...take heart in the emergence of a growing number of companies who've received the message and who are seeking to completely avoid petrochemicals in their cosmetic and personal care products. Your best bet is to purchase products whose ingredients you can pronounce or better yet are certified under the USDA National Organic Program." All six Terressentials USDA-certified organic products tested were free of 1,4-dioxane. Steinman called on Congress to hold public hearings to reconsider whether the industry requires greater regulatory oversight by the USDA National Organic Program and other government agencies. "The practice of ethoxylating ingredients or using other petroleum compounds must end for natural personal care, and is that much more outrageous in so-called 'organics' brand products," said Ronnie Cummins, Executive Director of the Organic Consumers Association. Cummins categorized the sale of misleadingly labeled faux-organic products as "rampant labeling fraud." Also at the press conference, plans were announced to "pursue legal remedies" if non-USDA-compliant manufacturers do not pledge by Earth Day 2008 to drop their "organic" claims. None of the offending companies have pledged to come into conformance with USDA organic regulations. In addition, no natural foods markets have come forward to say that the test results would prompt any changes in products sold at their stores. David Steinman is an acclaimed environmentalist, consumer health advocate, publisher and author. His major books include Diet for a Poisoned Planet (1990, 2007), The Safe Shopper's Bible (1995), Living Healthy in a Toxic World (1996), and Safe Trip to Eden: Ten Steps to Save the Planet Earth from the Global Warming Meltdown (2007), the book that introduces the concept of "Green Patriotism." He has also been featured as a consumer health advocate in the media on TV, radio and in the press. Terressentials is a USDA certified organic company crafting genuine certified organic personal care products from their base in Middletown, Maryland. Details: LA Times |
|
|
|
© Terressentials®
