Consumer Alert: Food, Beverage and Personal Care Products Require No FDA Approval
While the Food & Drug Administration regulates products designed for personal
consumption, the products we breathe in, absorb through our skin and those which
we use to contain our food and beverages go completely unregulated.
Blood tests show that most Americans' bodies carry a significant burden of pollution,
including plastic softeners, flame retardants, pesticides and heavy metals. Recently
independent consumer advocated organization Environmental Working Group (EWG) tested
the umbilical cord blood of 10 newborn babies and found nearly 300 chemicals, including
BPA, fire retardants, lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and pesticides that
were banned more than 30 years ago. Many of these chemicals are known carcinogens,
mutagens, endocrine disrupting chemicals or reproductive toxins. Others heavy metal
contaminates including arsenic, lead and mercury have been linked to a number of
birth defects and developmental disorders, most notably the growing incidents of
children born with autism.
Because they’re unregulated, these chemicals are readily prevalent in the
personal care products, food and beverage containers and household cleaners we use
every day. Certain environmental toxins are difficult to avoid, but by becoming
informed and making better choices, you can avoid ingesting harmful chemicals that
adversely affect your health.
What can you do?
Read the fine print! When purchasing food and beverage containers, select safe plastics
that use polyethylene (#1, #2, and #4) and polypropylene (#5), which require the
use of fewer toxic additives. Avoid the more hazardous plastics, including polyvinyl
chloride (PVC, #3), polystyrene (#6), and polycarbonate (#7) which typically contains
bisphenol A (BPA) and is found in baby bottles or sippy cups. (Learn more in our
article - "Safer Plastic
Choices and Some to Avoid")
Personal care products frequently use words such as "pure", "healthy"
and "natural" all the time, but these claims don't mean a thing in terms
of regulations. Even the terms “organic” and “hypo-allergenic”
have no legal standards when used on personal care products. So companies can, and
often do, use these words to market products that contain multiple toxic chemicals.
You would be amazed (and outraged) at the number of products marketed "for
sensitive skin" that contain allergens and skin toxicants! Ignore the claims
on the front of the package. Flip the product over and look at the label.
When it comes to synthetic chemical exposures, less is more. Choose products with
shorter ingredient lists and fewer or no synthetic chemicals. Scan for common chemicals
such as sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, parabens, diethanolamine (DEA), triethanolamine
(TEA), diazolidinyl and imidazolidinyl urea, PEGs, quaternium 15 and fragrance –
if a product contains any of these synthetics, it is a likely bet that you will
be inhaling, ingesting or absorbing unnecessary toxins into your body that can easily
be avoided.
Next time you shop, be sure to read the labels. Better yet, support one of the growing
number of conscientious merchants unwilling to offer products containing harmful
substances. There are healthy alternatives for all of the toxic offerings out there,
it’s up to the consumer to make the best choices for clean, green and sustainable
living.
Resources:
Environmental Working Group: www.ewg.org
Chemical-Free Personal and Baby Care Products:
http://www.nubiusorganics.com/Bath-Body-C368.aspx
Toxin-Free Reusable Bottles: http://www.nubiusorganics.com/Water-Bottles-C1.aspx
Chemical-Free Food and Beverage Containers: http://www.nubiusorganics.com/Reusable-Containers--C263.aspx