It was inevitable! Marketing loves to jump on the latest hottest selling trend, and with buzz words like “natural” and “organic” it is easy to slip some shady characters into the mix.
Tests conducted by the Organic Consumers Association, a consumer advocacy group, have found a cancer causing chemical in nearly half of the 100 “natural” and :organic” products sold in markets across the country. Leaders in the natural products industry, gathering today in Anaheim for a national trade show, worry that the test results will taint the industry in the eyes of the public. Well, yeah! And rightly so!
The affected products are soaps, shampoos and other consumer products sold under well-known brands, including Kiss My Face, Alba, Seventh Generation and Nature's Gate products, sold in retail stores across the nation.
47 products had detectable amounts of 1,4-dioxane, which the EPA has declared a probable human carcinogen. Some companies said they would review their ingredients, while others lamented that eliminating the chemical, 1,4-dioxane, would mean using alternatives that irritate the skin or reduce cleaning effectiveness. So, does this mean they think causing cancer is the best alternative? I have a better alternative, use one of the other 53 products.
"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,' " said consumer advocate and author David Steinberg, who directed the study.
They continue to work on the issue, says Martin Wolf of Seventh Generation: "We're not there yet. We have more work to do."
Just remember to not believe everything you read, see or hear. Especially when it involves advertisers.
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