Toxic bubble bath: Johnson & Johnson responds
Read their response to my questions about their baby product.
A few days ago, I wrote a post entitled "Another headache for Johnson & Johnson" about the presence of known carcinogens like formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane in children's baby bath products and the media campaign that green mom bloggers were launching to get Johnson & Johnson to recognize their concerns. I contacted Johnson & Johnson directly as I was writing my initial post to get their comments and insight and find out how we could all work together to achieve what we both want ... safer products for children. Dear Jenn:
Thank you for contacting the Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. Information Center. It is always important to hear from our consumers, and we appreciate the time you have taken to contact us.For more than 100 years, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. has been providing parents with safe and effective products for their babies and young children. We value the trust that parents place in us, and we continually strive to maintain that trust by using high-quality standards to test and evaluate every ingredient that goes into our products.
The trace levels of certain compounds found by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics can result from processes that make our products gentle for babies and safe from bacteria growth. The FDA and other government agencies around the world consider these trace levels safe, and all our products meet or exceed the regulatory requirements in every country where they are sold. Experts such as MDs, toxicologists and clinical scientists regularly review the safety data for all ingredients used in our products. In addition, we test our final baby product formulations for safety. Once our products are in the marketplace, we continually monitor consumer experiences and review evolving scientific data.
We are disappointed that the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has inaccurately characterized the safety of our products, misrepresented the overwhelming consensus of scientists and government agencies that review the safety of ingredients, and unnecessarily alarmed parents.
We want to reassure parents that JOHNSON'S Baby Shampoo and all our baby and kids products are safe, gentle and mild products that they can trust and use with confidence.
Again, thank you for your interest in our company. Should you have any comments or questions in the future, please contact us via our website or by calling our toll-free number, 1-888-638-5242. Our specialists are available Monday through Friday between 8 AM and 5 PM EST and will be happy to assist you.
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Comments
J&J bubble bath and wash in blue bottle not the shampoo is the only thing that does not give my baby a rash and infection. yall might want to look around your house and read some more information since a lot of the things yall are worried about there are worse things in the air and water. you might not drink tap but you sure bathe in it. and probably water your gardens with it and then eat the product of your gardens? do you have plywood or particle board instead of real wood? might want to.... More
The response from J&J is very typical & it infuriates me!! They think the masses are stupid and will believe them. Do a google search on MSDS sodium lauryl sulphate and check it out for yourselves. MSDS is for material safety data sheet. Do another search for all their other ingredients - you will find that nearly 70% of what's in baby bubble bath is toxic! I am one of many who refuse to support this barbaric industry...
The initiative taken for the concern is very serious and need an
attention of every one. This is the concern which exists in the
society and needs to be eliminated from the society as soon as possible.
The people are loosing their moral while becoming modern. The society needs to be attentive that moral value.
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Clearly, I am concerned about putting chemicals on my baby. However, I am also concerned that this study/argument agianst J&J may be too one-sided. I have to wonder if these "studies" are sponsored by organizations that produce natural products (which are ridiculously more expensive -- a complete line of J&J can be purchased for about $20 whereas I just purchased soap, lotion and sunblock that is "natural" for $80). The amount of chemicals found, according to my research, is a.... More
I just purchased the coco butter/shea for my son but I will use it since it's "safe" enough for us but I was wondering what you'd heard about Burt's and the other "organic/natural" products out there. Do they have the same amounts or any harsh chemicals that might cause effects like formaldehyde? Thanks for anything! Do you mind if I post your reply and info on my blog? tobreathagain-alison? It's main discussion is living with asthma BUT it is also about helping our children as much as we.... More
Thanks for your comment Alison. The best place for info on what products contain certain ingredients is the Skip Deep Database (http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com) put together by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). The EWG is non-profit and non-partisan...they are truly an independent group that analyzes the ingredients in personal care products so that we as consumers can decide for.... More
Thanks for the comments all. I agree MaryBeth, formaldehyde and babies don't mix...especially when there are alternatives. And Michael S., I too agree that kids don't need to be placed in a bubble and sheltered from every little germ that crosses their path. But formaldehyde? I'm pretty sure that will only do harm to their developing immune systems. I'd like to see Johnson & Johnson take the lead on developing a product that parents won't even have to worry about.
Small amounts of formaldehyde are naturally occuring in the human body. If you look at your body's naturally occuring level, you will probably find that it is much higher than the exposure you would recieve from bathing your baby with a Johnson & Johnson baby product. Same holds true for several other "bad" chemicals. The average American ingests about 10 times more parabens each day in their food than they will possibly absorb using skin care products.
The response shows just how far removed Johnson and Johnson is from a growing segment of consumers. When this news was posted on Green Parents Network (http://greenparentsnetwork.com) the response from our members was quick and decisive - carcinogens, no matter how "trace", and babies shouldn't be in the same tub/room/home.
Interestingly, someone did post that the J & J lotion in the pink bottle keeps head lice away from kids! Yikes - what do the lice know that we
Sure they wrote that letter to protect themselves, but as far as I know J&J have long been in the baby care business, earning a good reputation. I know their products, they deserve at least an objective hearing. Before I would judge, I'd want to know why these "mothers" are up in arms, how really harmful these additives are to humans.
I grew up a wartime boomer, surrounded by chemicals which would terrify any of today's militant mothers, but mom did her best. Today's kids are.... More
Sure they wrote that letter to protect themselves, but as far as I know J&J have long been in the baby care business, earning a good reputation. I know their products, they deserve at least an objective hearing. Before I would judge, I'd want to know why these "mothers" are up in arms, how really harmful these additives are to humans.
I grew up a wartime boomer, surrounded by chemicals which would terrify any of today's militant mothers, but mom did her best. Today's kids are.... More
