Nexus - 0702 - New Times Magazine-pages

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detergents, cosmetics, medications and food via some complicated rather than just one or two. Our labelling and safety laws make and indefensible legal sanctions. To give only one example, the no provisions to protect consumers from the effects of two or National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health found that more chemicals in the same product. 884 chemicals used in cosmetics are reported as toxic. However, 6. Listing the source of an ingredient as "natural", "organic", a document from the General Accounting Office "notes that the "food grade" or from an edible source (such as coconut or orange) FDA has committed no resources for assessing the safety problems does not guarantee that the ingredient will remain pure or even of those chemicals that have been found to cause genetic damage, safe by the time it has been fully processed. The company is not biological mutations, and cancer".'” required to state what kinds of processing the ingredient has gone The inclusion of a particular chemical or additive on the United through in order to yield the final component—such as whether or States Government's GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) list not solvents were used to extract the material and, if so, what does not guarantee that the chemical is safe or has even been test- steps (if any) were then taken to remove the solvents (and with ed. Incredibly, ingredients can appear on this list if the FDA what) from the final mix. Take the commonplace detergent, sodi- thinks they are safe or assumes they are safe. Even if the FDA um laurel sulphate, which causes eye irritation, allergic reactions, demonstrated active interest in ensuring the safety of new chemi- hair damage and drying of the skin. Some manufacturers, espe- cals, the number of items submitted for approval is so staggering- cially of products geared towards the health food market, try to ly high that the staff cannot handle all the applications of manu- circumvent consumer concern by listing this highly processed, facturers who want their chemicals approved. Ruth Winter, synthetic detergent as "a mild, naturally foaming agent from author of A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives, cites many coconuts". cases where the FDA's toxicology reports are either not current or 7. Many products emphasise the positive aspects of one ingre- non-existent. Significantly, many chemicals accepted by the FDA dient in order to detract from the product's overall defects. For for use in the United States are instance, the inclusion of safe and bene- banned in Europe. ficial, organically grown herbs does * There is no system of checks and not guarantee that the rest of the ingre- balances to ensure the impartiality dients in the product are safe. Take Sppoving cropposing a subance. | __ Usually, the effects of a whose label states, "Herbs so The work history and affiliations of combination of chemicals Is under certified organic conditions—no a number of FDA employees is exponentially more lethal than petrochemicals or pesticides". This questionable. Only one example is . same shampoo contains solvents Margaret Miller, who worked on the effects of uncombined (made from petrochemicals) and bovine growth hormone for chemicals. detergents (which contain pesticides), Monsanto (the manufacturer of as well as synthetic fragrances, preser- drugs, pesticides and artificial vatives and dyes. sweeteners) before getting a job Other products claim merit accord- with the FDA—where she then was ing to what is omitted from the formu- put in charge of approving her own la, but the strategy is the same. The research. Monsanto lawyer Michael Taylor was also hired by the —_ label from NutriBiotic Bubble Bath reads, "Contains no sodium FDA. Says Betty Martini, founder of Mission Possible: "The lauryl sulphate". The product does, however, contain sodium FDA is Monsanto's Washington branch office.""' laureth sulphate—which, despite its limited reputation as milder 2. Much of the testing for safety, on which the FDA bases its than sodium lauryl] sulphate, contains a toxic ether and is likely to acceptance or rejection of a product, is conducted by the manufac- be contaminated with carcinogenic compounds as well. turers. 8. Sometimes claims are made for products that, while not false 3. Labelling rules are different for foods, cosmetics, household —_per se, are deceptive because they eclipse other, more important items and medicines. Depending on the regulation and the pro- information. For instance, a number of skin care product labels duct's classification, not all ingredients have to be listed on a read, "This product is packaged in a biodegradable container". label. The cosmetic and personal care product industry is Still others make a point of proclaiming, "No animal testing" or required to disclose ingredients, but this information has limited "Cruelty-free". While this is laudable, for the last 15 or 20 years value, since testing for safety is voluntary—and the industry itself there has not been any need for animal testing because most of the has the power to define "safety" and decide how its tests will be gruesome tests on commonly used ingredients have already been conducted. Often, the products that contain the least amount of — conducted. Since for cosmetics there is no legal requirement for information about their ingredients are the most noxious. The testing anyway, a company's statement of "No animal testing" is worst offenders are fabric softeners. Apparently, from what the likely a shrewd public relations tactic. Similarly, many cleansers labels fail to disclose, manufacturers are permitted to regard "fab- report that the product is "biodegradable" or "will not harm septic ric softener" as a generic chemical. Detergents rank close behind, tanks'"—again, laudable, but this obscures the fact that the product along with spray starch and furniture polish. is harmful to human beings. 4. Some labels are so unspecific that they are meaningless. For 9. Many ingredients can sound relatively innocuous until you example, the vague term "fragrance" is allowed on a label. do a little research. Take "non-ionic and anionic surfactants" However, a fragrance can consist of 200 separate ingredients which are in New Formula Mr Clean and Ivory Snow. (including solvents and plastics), any one of which can cause neg- Surfactants are none other than poisonous detergents. A more ative reactions. insidiously disguised ingredient is "quality control agents", con- 5. Usually, the effects of a combination of chemicals is expo- tained in Comet Homecare Bathroom Cleaner among other prod- nentially more lethal than the effects of uncombined chemicals. ucts. The bathroom cleaner's label reads, "Cleaning agents, quali- Unfortunately, most products are comprised of many chemicals, ty control agents, perfume, and water". Usually, the effects of a combination of chemicals is exponentially more lethal than the effects of uncombined chemicals. NEXUS - 47 FEBRUARY — MARCH 2000