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Is the tide turning when it comes to truth in labeling? Not exactly. Last week, SC Johnson & Son became the first major cleaning product manufacturer to disclose cleaning product ingredients on labels. Sounds great, right? Yes, except when you read the fine print: Fragrance is the exception to the rule and, as we’ve reported, scientists have linked synthetic fragrances to hormone disruption, skin irritations, allergies and more.
But the company’s decision is one step in the right direction. And it may be a defensive action against potential legislation: Last month, Representative Steve Israel of New York introduced the Cleaning Product Right to Know Act, which would require ingredients—including fragrance—be listed.
Will Procter & Gamble be next? Women’s Voices for the Earth released a report late last year that found high levels of a cancer-causing chemical called 1,4-dioxane—89 parts per million, to be exact—in Tide Free & Gentle, which they’re marketing to moms as a healthier choice for their children’s laundry. Considering infants and children are more vulnerable to chemical exposures because their immune, neurological, and hormone systems are still developing, carcinogenic 1,4 dioxane is certainly not the healthiest choice for them.
We joined Women’s Voices for the Earth and MomsRising in the “Since When Is Cancer Free & Gentle” campaign to encourage moms to boycott this brand and urge P&G to get 1,4-dioxane out of Tide Free & Gentle. Want to join the cleaner cleaners party? Check out this page for dates for twitter parties, Facebook chats and conference calls, then click here to sign our petition, featuring Lori Popkewitz Alper, a Healthy Child Healthy World Parent Ambassador. Let’s make our voices heard!
Finally, I have a few updates to ongoing stories that relate to the Healthy Child community. Last week, we delivered our petition to the EPA asking Lisa Jackson to stand by her word and release the assessment of dioxin—the single most potent cancer-causing chemical identified by scientists, and the one that made Agent Orange so dangerous—on schedule by January 31st. The assessment has been delayed for 27 years. Unfortunately, the deadline passed with no assessment released.
And the clock is ticking on labeling of genetically engineered foods! Please take a minute to contact your Representative and Senator urging him or her to sign on to the bicameral Dear Colleague Letter to the FDA from Senator Boxer and Representative DeFazio demanding the FDA label GE foods. We have a three-week window of opportunity while the letter circulates in both houses of Congress. Unsure who to contact? Email your Representative here and find your Senator’s phone number here. As we reported previously, genetically engineered foods, found in 80% of packaged foods on our grocery shelves, can be designed to release insecticides inside the plant and to withstand increasing doses of pesticides linked to cancer, neurotoxicity, birth defects, reproductive disorders, kidney and liver damage. More than 90% of Americans want our government to label them. Are you one of them? Make your voice heard!
We’ll keep you posted on all of these stories. Please let us know what actions you’re taking by commenting here or on Facebook, so we can stay in the loop (and give you a big virtual high five). Thanks!
Photo courtesy sidewalk flying / CC by 2.0
Posted by Mark on 02/07/2012 at 02:54 PM
It’s sad what these companies get away with. Thank you for your pursuit of them!
When it comes to genetically-modified foods, I find the easiest way to avoid them is to buy foods that expressly state that they are not GM. I just assume that the rest probably is, especially if it contains soy, corn, or potatoes.
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