Several years ago, there was a study published from Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC), a consumer safety group, stating that Johnson & Johnson used some chemicals in it’s baby wash that were cancer-causing and considered dangerous. This information was not something shared widely in pediatrician offices and not really talked about too much in parenting circles, but it certainly picked up some traction in the major news outlets and Johnson & Johnson was aware of the research and the request for chemical removal. After the CSC recently did a new review of the baby wash products across several countries, discovering that the cancer-causing chemical was removed in some countries but not the U.S., it re-released the original study and they made a bigger splash, including a consumer boycott. This time, the CSC requested a consumer boycott on all J&J products because J&J had yet to commit to making changes to the U.S. product line. On the same day, J&J formally addressed the report and announced that they are working towards a phase-out in the U.S. marketplace.
So that you know the whole story and can make your own decision on how to proceed, here is a breakdown of the story from the CSC website and then below are the specific products impacted as well as safe alternatives.
- March 2009: A report by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, No More Toxic Tub, revealed that Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, along with many other children’s bath products, contained two carcinogens—formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane—that were not listed on labels.
- May 2009: More than 40 organizations representing 1.7 million parents, health care providers and environmental health advocates wrote to Johnson & Johnson, detailing their concerns about the toxic chemicals found in the company’s baby products.
- September 2009: The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics again wrote to Johnson & Johnson, asking the company to immediately remove the formaldehyde-releasing preservative quaternium-15 from its baby products in light of new research linking the chemical to increased rates of allergic contact dermatitis.
- 2009-2011: The American Nurses Association and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics met several times with Johnson & Johnson executives to discuss concerns about formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane.
- October 2011: The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, American Nurses Association, Physicians for Social Responsibility and many other health and parents’ groups delivered another letter to Johnson & Johnson asking the company to commit to removing formaldehyde-releasing chemicals from all its children’s products in all markets worldwide by November 15, 2011.
- In response to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics report, Baby’s Tub is Still Toxic, Johnson & Johnson released a statement on Oct. 31, 2011 saying it is phasing out formaldehyde-releasing chemicals from its baby products worldwide.
(In my house, we use the Babyganics
California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo & Bodywash – 19 oz.
Adorable Baby Body Wash by Loving Naturals
So, what do you think? Will you continue to use J&J products? Have any experience with any of the safe alternative options?
No , I will not be using J&J anymore. I am boycotting all J&J products and going to use Babyganics. I returned all of my unopened J&J products this weekend. I cannot believe they would continue to manufacture their baby products with these chemicals. I’m also upset they took the chemicals out for other countries, but not the USA! What is their problem? Very disappointed.
After reading this there is no way I can use J&J products now. That is just scary. I just don’t understand, even from a business perspective, how they could keep producing products with cancer-causing chemicals for so long.
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just bought something organic at wegmans for tonight’s bath. J&J stinks!
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Ridiculous! Shame on J & J.
I know…it is awful. Technically, they didn’t remove the chemical from the US marketplace yet because our gov’t doesn’t think the chemical is a problem. Other countries banned it, so J&J re-formulated for those countries. It’s a huge problem on top of huge problem. Babyganics is a very nice product, so hopefully you will enjoy!
Oh my goodness…I will go buy something else but ugh I have this huge bottle of Aveeno bath wash. good news i can recycle the bottle right?
We switched to dye free, perfume free wash a year or so back. If for no other reason, it cuts down significantly on eczema and other sensitive skin issues. Maybe our children would not experience the sensitivies and allergies that are on the rise if these companies didn’t knowingly put harmful ingredients in their products.
Similar story here. We switched a while back mostly because we all need perfume free soap. Babyganics works well and the price is reasonable.
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We weren’t planning on using J&J anyway, I’m not a fan of purchasing from companies that test their products on animals when there are other reasonable options. We were leaning towards starting w/ the California Baby line, but I’ll have to check out some of the others too.
I love California Baby stuff, but it is really expensive and I think there are other comparable options that aren’t quite as pricey. Good luck choosing!
I am wondering how many of you are talking about not using these products but are still willing to vaccinate.
22 vaccines contain formaldehyde or formalin, carcinogen, gastrointestinal or liver toxicant, immunotoxicant, neurotoxicant, reproductive toxicant, respiratory toxicant, skin or sense organ toxicant. More hazardous than most chemicals, in 5 out of 12 ranking systems, On at least 8 federal regulatory lists. Ranked as one of the most hazardous compounds (worst 10%) to ecosystems and human health. To see which vaccines contain this poison you can find it here: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/B/excipient-table-1.pdf
Anthrax, DTap (all), DTap-Hep B-IPV (Pediarix), DTaP/Hib (TriHIbit), DT (all), TD (all), Hep A (Havrix, Vaqta), Hep A/Hep B (TwinRix), Hib (ActHib), Hib/Hep B (Comvax), Influenza (Fluzone, Fluarix, Flulaval), Japanese Encephalitis (JE-Vax), Polio (Ipol), Tdap (Adacel, Boostrix).
Fluzone is used for ages 6 months and older. Fluarix is for 3 yrs and older. Flulaval is the one they use on pregnant women.
This article is specifically about baby wash, which is categorically different than vaccines. Every single decision we make as parents, and in life, boils down to an analysis of the cost-benefit. When it comes to baby wash, it seems to be a rather easy decision to simply use a wash that does not contain harmful chemicals. They are readily available and affordable, and we are simply talking about soap (or soap alternative). Vaccines are totally different. With the exception of some, there may not be an alternative. Some of the vaccines you listed have safer competitors but some do not. I have personally discussed whether or not vaccines are safe, given that we all know that some of them have questionable ingredients. I also have had the opportunity to hear some of the world’s top infectious disease specialists discuss the importance of vaccines on world health and I had the misfortune of watching someone die in the ICU from complications that can occur in hospitals. For me and my family, we determined that the remote risk that you listed does not outweigh benefit of being vaccinated. Your decision was clearly different. We all do what we think is best for our kids.