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OCA Releases Research on Cancer causing compounds included in name brand cosmetics.

EU Food Supplements Directives Update: Irish Retailers Petition EU Commission for High Dose Supplements

U.S. Legislation Update: New Legislative Bill would make Drug Companies disclose “gifts”

What is the World Institute of Natural Health Sciences (WINHS)

 

“Natural” Cosmetics Products Found Contaminated with Cancer-Causing Compound.

by Mike Adams

WINHS Editor’s Note: The following article is reproduced from the NaturalNews.Com news service. We felt it was an important article which contained information that could immediately assist our readership and their friends and associates in the prevention and avoidance of potentially disastrous situations if this information were left unpublished.

A cancer-causing compound called “1,4-dioxane” has been found in some of the most commonly used petroleum-based cosmetics in a study commissioned by the Organic Consumers Association.

The study revealed the deadly ingredient was included in products from 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.

1,4-dioxane (often just called dioxane) is a clear, colorless, organic compound that's a liquid at room temperature and is a known human carcinogen.

The study was conducted by the Organic Consumers Association in conjunction with Dr. Bronner's and David Steinman, author of The Safe Shopper's Bible. It sought to determine the levels of 1,4-Dioxane in one hundred different consumer products , ranging from dish soaps to shower gels. Around fifty of the products tested were found to be contaminated with 1,4-Dioxane, while another fifty (or so) were found to be free of the cancer-causing chemical.

Companies whose products were found to be free of 1,4-Dioxane include 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.

In response to the results indicating the contamination of many consumer care products, the Organic Consumers Association's Executive Director, Ronnie Cummins, said, "The labeling and formulation practices of these companies are so unsupportable, we wonder sometimes if the garbage manager is in charge of the products development and R&D."

Ronnie Cummins took part in a press conference that announced the findings. NaturalNews was there to record the press conference, and they've posted the 28-minute announcement as an audio file (MP3) (see Health Ranger Report #12).

The toxicity of 1,4-Dioxane

1,4-Dioxane is 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.

*Note: Ethoxylation is a chemical process in which ethylene oxide (a colorless gas) is added to fatty acids in order to make them more soluble in water.

The National Toxicology Program considers dioxane to be a known animal carcinogen.

The Environmental Protection Agency classifies this cancer-causing petrochemical as a probable human carcinogen, based on the "induction of nasal cavity and liver carcinomas in multiple strains of rats, liver carcinomas in mice, and gall bladder carcinomas in guinea pigs," according to a 2003 EPA report.

Common sense tells us that the chemical is also carcinogenic to humans. Conducting such tests on humans to determine the actual level of carcinogenicity, however, would be highly unethical, so those tests have not been done. That's why 1,4-Dioxane is technically called a "probable" human carcinogen. But everybody in the industry knows it's a cancer-causing chemical.

Dioxane is on California's Proposition 65 list of chemicals known or suspected by the state to cause cancer or birth defects. According to researchers at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a recent assessment of ingredients in 15,000 cosmetics and other personal care products found that 22 % of all products may be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane. The group's research on personal care products is available at http://www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep

Cosmetics: An industry of death

Based on the presence of dioxane in common ingredients of a wide array of products that the cosmetics industry uses, an EWG analysis of government and industry sources shows that at least 146 cosmetic ingredients may contain harmful impurities linked to systematic cancer and other serious health impacts.

A 2004 online survey found that 20% of people who use cosmetics and personal care products every day are potentially exposed to all of the top seven carcinogenic impurities -- hydroquinone, ethylene dioxide, 1,4-dioxane, formaldehyde, nitrosamines, PAHs, and acrylamide.

All of these chemicals are common in personal care products, yet none are restricted by government safety standards. In other words, it's perfectly legal for cosmetic companies to poison the population with known cancer-causing chemicals, all with the nod of approval from the FDA.

Of the potential contaminants in cosmetic products, hydroquinone was ranked the leader in impurities, as it is often found in products used daily by 94% of women and 69% of men. This chemical is currently under review by the FDA. 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, says Cummins, 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? As David Steinman noted in the press conference, 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 ingredients 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

Read more from the OCA at www.OrganicConsumers.org 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

Recent laboratory tests "revealed the presence of 1,4-Dioxane in products such as Hello Kitty Bubble Bath, Huggies Baby Wash, Johnson's Baby Wash, Scooby-Doo Bubble Bath and Sesame Street Bubble Bath. The tests also found the carcinogen in Clairol Herbal Essences Shampoo, Olay Complete Body Wash and many other personal care products," according to a Feb. 2007 EWG press release.

The FDA has been measuring 1,4-dioxane levels since 1979, but because the agency has little authority or enforcement capacity over the cosmetics industry, it has worked with manufacturers to reduce levels on a voluntary basis only.

"Regrettably, 1,4-Dioxane contamination is just the tip of the iceberg," said Jeanne Rizzo, R.N., executive director of the Breast Cancer Fund which is a founding member of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. "Because the FDA does not require cosmetics products to be approved as safe before they are sold, companies can put unlimited amounts of toxic chemicals in cosmetics."

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."

Be sure to listen to the full press conference of this groundbreaking announcement at: http://www.naturalnews.com/Index-Podcasts.html

EU Food Supplements Directives Update: Irish Retailers Petition EU Commission for High Dose Supplements

By Shane Starling

An Irish health food store association will have its pro-high-dose food supplements petition considered by the European Commission after it was deemed 'admissible' by a European Parliament committee.

The petition contains reference to more than 1000 peer-reviewed studies demonstrating the safety and health benefits of high-dose food supplements consumption.

Jill Bell, an Irish health food store proprietor who took the petition to Europe on behalf of the Irish Association of Health Stores (IAHS), said it was hoped the strength of the clinical data referenced in the submission would sway Europe's lawmakers.

"Despite the fact Ireland is one of three European countries with a high-dose supplements commercial culture, the Irish government seems intent on setting maximum levels at RDA levels," Bell told NutraIngredients.com. "We question the legality of that position since Europe has not itself determined its own maximum level approach."

UK stance

The other EU member states with widely available high-dose supplements are the UK and the Netherlands.

John McKee, executive director of the UK National Association of Health Stores (NAHS), questioned the effectiveness of its Irish counterpart's campaign.

"We wish them the best but we have been down the petition route before and the typical response from the EC is that they are going through the process of assessing data," he said. "That has been going on for years and so we won't be mounting a similar petition from here as we have few resources to squander."

McKee questioned how much fresh data would be considered by the EC given it had set a January 2009 deadline to determine maximum levels in foods and food supplements across the 27-member bloc.

But he added: "The NAHS fully supports the IAHS attempt to raise the profile of the problems that the Food Supplements Directive will cause for currently liberal regimes in the EU."

One European food law expert agreed the petition may struggle to influence EC bureaucrats but acknowledged the petition's admission obliged the EC to at least scrutinize its content.

Right to choose

"This is wonderful news," said Ireland South MEP, Kathy Sinnott, who is backing the petition. She warned of the potential "draconian decrease" in Irish supplements nutrient levels the Food Supplements Directive could deliver. "The Petitions Committee will now send the petition to the European Commission for its opinion and investigation."

She added: "If a person wishes to take supplements more than the RDA, they will require a doctor's prescription. These minimalist levels are only enough to keep away deficiency diseases but it is not enough to contribute to good health much less enhance health. "

The IAHS petition calls for member state "authorities, consumers and/or stakeholders" to be able to choose "to retain access to the higher level supplements traditionally on open sale in those member states, notably Ireland and the UK."

"Crucially, not a single incidence of any serious adverse side effects caused by food supplements in over 40 years usage has ever been recorded in Ireland," it stated, adding, "The result of a virtual ban on higher level supplements will inevitably mean consumers will turn to unregulated sources of food supplements such as the Internet, which indeed would give rise to well-founded concerns about safety and quality."

The IAHS represents about 80 per cent of Irish health food stores.

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U.S. Legislation Update: New Legislative Bill would make Drug Companies disclose “gifts”

March 18, 2008

A measure that would force pharmaceutical companies and medical device makers to disclose gifts valued at more than $25 seems to be gathering momentum. U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio (Democrat from Oregon and Pete Stark (Democrat from California) have introduced a bill that would set such a rule.

It follows a companion bill sponsored by Sens. Chuck Grassley (Republican from Indiana) and Herb Kohl (Democrat from Wisconsin), which in its case, would require companies with at least $100 million in annual revenue to disclose gifts of more than $25, which then would be posted on a website. In the Senate version, companies would also have to disclose payments for continuing medical education.

With sponsors from both sides of Congress, and terms that seem relatively complementary, it looks like this measure has decent prospects. Let's see if PhRMA (the pharmaceutical industry’s PR and lobbing group) can pry both the House and the Senate off of this one.

We strongly recommend contacting your government representatives in Congress and the Senate to ask for their support of this proposed legislation in light of the volume of government investigations and State and Federal trials into the pharmaceutical industry’s shoddy research and illegal marketing practices.

As a note, this is just one measure to monitor and prevent priorities of vested interests over the health and well being of their constituents.

You can reach any government representative through the WINHS.ORG web site simply by going to: http://www.winhs.org/contactgov.htm

What is the World Institute of Natural Health Sciences?

The World Institute of Natural Health Sciences (WINHS) is a not-for-profit, worldwide organization established to support and defend the natural and alternative health care industries; their sciences, and the individual's basic human right of access to these.

The institute, fully established in 2005, consists of scientists, medical and nutritional doctors and legal professionals, political scientists, researchers, investigators, communication specialists and a number of able-bodied volunteers.

WINHS fully supports and facilitates the individual's basic human right to make their own educated decisions and their own personal, but educated choices from all available treatments and therapies in order to maintain or restore a desirable level of sustainable health and well-being.

Further, its purpose includes the collection and synthesizing of research and technical developments from the scientific community in the fields of nutrition, foods and food supplements, minerals and herbs and the alternative and natural health industries themselves.

The Institute's programs and initiatives are of critical importance to innovative manufacturers, retailers and distributors, consumers and those practitioners who have come to rely upon innovative and complex food supplements and alternative health care practices.

Find out more about WINHS and what YOU can do to help. Simply go to our web site: http://www.winhs.org