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.

So there you have it. What do you think?

I’m not too cool with bathing my kids in chemicals.  Nor am I thrilled with having to pay a fortune in hard earned dollars just to find products that I can feel comfortable using to bathe my kids.

So I am very excited about a new movement underway, spearheaded by the women of the that questions this new Johnson & Johnson campaign and asks the company to come up with a better way to earn our trust. Just as we as consumers questioned the safety of BPA and demanded that it be removed from our products, we are mobilizing a grass roots effort to demand a higher safety standard and greater transparency in the products we use to clean and care for our children.

As a leader in the personal care product industry, Johnson & Johnson has an opportunity here to spearhead this effort, proving that they truly “aspire to be the most environmentally responsible company in the world,” as they state on their website.  That’s a lovely sentiment, but these days, it takes more than talk to go green.  It takes leadership, innovation, and above all a concern for the health of people and the planet that means you will go above and beyond in your efforts to protect them.

Here is what it would take for Johnson & Johnson to earn my trust:

Safety: As an American consumer, I am finally beginning to understand that I need to take responsibility for demanding that safety is priority #1 when it comes to my family. If there are chemicals that are known carcinogens (ie 1,4 dioxane, phthalates, and formaldehyde) I do not want them in my personal care products. And
I want Johnson & Johnson…a company that promotes itself as a leader in caring about families and protecting the environment…to take the lead on undertaking initiatives to ensure that the products they sell are safe for people and the planet.  

I also want to know what is in the products I put on and in my children. Many companies that make personal care products claim that they cannot reveal their ingrendients because they are part of their product’s “secret formula.” I’m calling baloney on that. To me, the average consumer, “properitary formula” is just a fancy way of saying “dangerous chemicals that we don’t want you to know about.” I will not buy any product unless I know what’s in it. It’s as simple as that. If your product has chemicals in it that you don’t want me to know about, then I don’t want your product.

Sustainability: To quote the website, “we must protect the environments in which we work and live. A healthy planet and a healthy community go hand in hand.”  I couldn’t agree more.  I wholeheartedly applaud Johnson & Johnson’s efforts to reduce their company’s carbon dioxide emissions and minimize their overall environmental footprint.  According to their website, Johnson & Johnson “aspires to be the most environmentally responsible company in the world.”  That’s wonderful!  But you can’t just greenwash this.  Johnson & Johnson needs to put their money where their mouth is to make this happen.  And that means making products that do not bathe our children in chemicals or release toxins in to the environment.

Support:

It goes without saying that Johnson & Johnson is a leader in the personal care industry.  So I’d like to see them use that leadership to support the  that is in front of Congress right now.  I would like to know that they are willing to ensure that all chemicals in kids products are proven safe BEFORE they’re used to create baby bath and lotion.  How is it possible that this is not already the case?  

So there it is. That is what I want from Johnson & Johnson.  And believe you me, if they can deliver on this, then I will be a Johnson & Johnson customer for life.   Because this is what it will take for them to earn the title of “the most environmentally responsible company in the world.”

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Waste-Free Wednesday

It’s Waste-Free Wednesday again, and this week’s edition is For Ladies Only as we look at ways to green that oh so lovely time of the month that for various reasons we all either love or hate (or sometimes both!)

We’ve all seen the warnings on tampon boxes about toxic shock syndrome (TSS). It’s occurrence is pretty rare these days, but it still does occur in women who use super-absorbent and synthetic tampons. But guess what, TSS is not the only thing you need to worry about when choosing your monthly supplies. Most feminine products are made with a slew of synthetic chemicals and disposable materials that wreak havoc on a woman’s body and on Mother Nature.

For starters, the tampons and sanitary pads on your store shelf have been bleached with chlorine to make them look “clean,” but in the process that chlorine releases dioxin, a known carcinogen and pollutant. In the body, dioxin accumulates in fat cells where it can cause damage to other cells within the body.

Then there is the disposable factor of typical feminine supplies. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that this is one area that I have been hesitant to tackle in my own life. I’ve washed countless numbers of cloth diapers, but when it came to my own products, I was a little too squeamish for reusables. But a few weeks ago, I decided to put my preconceived notions aside and give it a try. And you know what? It was really no big deal. If anything, I have to say that I really felt great in knowing that the products I was using were so much gentler and healthier for my body and for the planet.

It’s time to go green. Period. Here’s how it’s done:

Lunapad Pantyliners

 Reusable Pads: Moonpads and Lunapads both offer beautiful, soft, reusable menstrual pads made from 100% cotton (in some cases, even organic cotton.)

The Diva Cup

Menstrual cups: Menstrual cups can be used as an alternative to using tampons and sanitary napkins, therefore reducing the amount going into landfill and saving yourself money in the process. The Moon Cup and The Diva Cup are silicone-based menstrual cups whereas The Keeper is made from rubber.

Organic Cotton Tampons and Pads: If you’re still squeamish on the reusable front your best bet on going green is to look for unbleached 100% organic cotton tampons and sanitary pads like those made from Seventh Generation. 

I must admit that in my house we might be thought to be a little lax when it comes to germs. I am not saying that we do not wash our hands when we go to the bathroom or before we eat. We play in the yard digging for bugs and worms and get big slobbery kisses from our dog. We are not afraid of dirt, and follow the “five second rule”.  That said, we are a very clean family. We focus on washing our hands to ensure that there is no, as my 2 year says, durt when we touch food.

Now, I have never been big on anti-bacterial soaps and hand sanitizer because I believe that we need to build up our immunity to bacteria and viruses to make us stronger. When the kids were infants I did use these types of cleaning products but now that they are older, these products are basically non-existent in our house.

So when I was asked to test out a new, natural, non-toxic hand sanitizer, I was little disinterested but began a dialogue with the company because I was willing to learn more. One of the key points of this new product was they do not use triclosan a widely used anti-bacterial agent.

What is triclosan you ask?  Well, this is what I learned and it is not a pleasant story…

is antimicrobial and antifungal pesticide that is used in a wide variety of products found in retail stores across the country including soaps, toothpastes, cosmetics, deodorants, personal care products, first aid, kitchenware, computer electronics, toys, plastics, paints and clothing. It is widely known as which is infused into everything from cutting boards, pillows and shoes because it inhibits the growth of microbes, such as bacteria, mold and mildew.  Ok, that does not sound that bad…yet.

However, according to , a group dedicated to eliminating toxic and harmful pesticides from our environment, “Studies have increasingly linked one of the most common antimicrobial, triclosan (and its chemical cousin triclocarban), to a range of adverse health and environmental effects, from skin irritation, allergy susceptibility, bacterial and compounded antibiotic resistant, tainted water, and dioxin contamination to destruction of fragile aquatic ecosystems.”

As explained on Wikipedia

During wastewater treatment, a portion of triclosan is degraded while the remaining adsorbs to sewage sludge or exits the plant in wastewater effluent. In the environment, triclosan may be degraded by microorganisms or react with sunlight forming other compounds which may include chlorophenols and dioxin, or it may adsorb to particles that settle out of the water column and form sediment. Triclosan was found in Greifensee, a small lake in Switzerland, sediment that was over 30 years old, suggesting that triclosan is degraded or removed slowly in sediment.

Whoa….wait a minute,  Triclosan degrades into dioxins and chlorophenols, both are known carcinogens. Studies have shown that ultraviolet light converts triclosan to dioxins and it is believed that sunlight could transform triclosan to dioxins naturally. Scientist at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, VA tested 16 products including soaps, lotions and body wash with triclosan and without.  They discovered that the triclosan products reacted with chlorinated water to produce chloroform, another carcinogen.  So this stuff breaks down into cancer causing agents. I think we’ll keep our hands a bit dirtier and live longer.

In a press release from the Environmental Working Group, the organization states:

Triclosan has been linked to cancer in lab animals, has been targeted for removal from some stores in Europe for its health and environmental risks, and the American Medical Association recommends against its use in the home. It is also linked to liver and inhalation toxicity, and low levels of triclosan may disrupt the thyroid hormone system. Thyroid hormones are essential to proper growth and development, particularly for brain growth in utero and during infancy.

Triclosan breaks down into very toxic chemicals, including a form of dioxin; methyl triclosan, which is acutely toxic to aquatic life; and chloroform, a carcinogen formed when triclosan mixes with tap water that has been treated with chlorine. Scientists surveyed 85 U.S. rivers and streams, and found traces of triclosan in more than half.

Just last month, Beyond Pesticides, along with Food and Water Watch, Greenpeace US, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club and dozens of public health and environmental groups filed a comment/letter with the Environmental Protection Agency, urging the the agency to stop all non-medical use of triclosan because of its detromental effects on our health and the environment. You can read the press release and comments submitted to the EPA by clicking and .

As I mentioned, triclosan can be found in many, many everyday products. To see a detailed list of products and brands, check out the list on Beyond Pesticides by clicking . Some very well known brands are on the list like toothpaste. Toothpaste? How scary is that? You are putting triclosan and therefore carcinogens directly into your mouth and your body! So rinse and spit, and now you have chloroform. The Colgate website touts “Colgate Total® formula is so revolutionary it’s even patented. One of its active ingredients is triclosan, which is used to help prevent plaque and gingivitis. The formula’s copolymer enables triclosan to continue working in the mouth for 12 hours.” Great so use this toothpaste and triclosan will stay in your mouth for 12 hours!  That’s 12 more hours of exposure to a potential cancer causing agent than I want.

So how do we get rid of those unwanted germs when we really need to. Well let’s go back to that product I dismissed at first. It is called made from , a natural germ killing product derived from thyme and other essential oils. According to the company, Clean Well kills 99.99% of germs on contact including E. Coli, Salmonella, Staph (MRSA) and Pseudomonas. Clean Well is made from a renewable resource that is sustainably grown with no pesticides, irrigation or fertilizer and there are no toxic byproducts from the manufacturing process. Clean Well comes in a spray, as hand wipes and hand wash foam.  So for when you have a house full of sick kids or are cooking with chicken and want to kill germs, you now can avoid triclosan.

To read more about triclosan check out the site where they give detailed information on the effects of triclosan on our health and the environment, what products contain triclosan and much, much more.

Those germs don’t look so bad anymore….you gonna give up your anti-bacterial soaps, or are you gonna to keep on using triclosan-based products?

Melissa Goldberg blogs about taking a stand and making the world a better place for her family at The blog can also be be read at, and .

Just how toxic is your bathroom?

To date, 89% of the 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products have not been evaluated for safety by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (an in-house panel appointed by the cosmetics industry), or anyone else.

A 2004 survey by the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit research group, found that the average adult uses approximately nine personal care products each day, for a total of 126 unique chemical ingredients.

While some products are tested for reactions such as skin redness, rashes, or stinging, there is little to no information about the long-term safety of these chemical cocktails for either humans or the environment.

The good news is that you don’t have to give up washing your hair or smelling good in order to protect your health and be nice to the planet. There are safe, non-toxic alternatives to virtually every personal care product your family needs. Here are the top 5 ways to green your beauty regime.

1. Read The Labels: Take five seconds to read the label and put down any product that contains phthalates, mercury, toluene, lead, formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, parabens (hormone-disrupting preservatives such as methylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben, and propylparaben), or BHA. These chemicals are considered the most detrimental to human and environmental health.
2. Use A Little Less: Reevaluate your beauty regimen to see if you can get by with a little less. Do you really need all of those beauty products in your cabinet? For each product you eliminate, you’ll save money and reduce the chemicals in your body and in the environment.
   
3. Be Kind To Animals: Animal testing is unnecessary, unethical, and just plain cruel. Look for the “Leaping Bunny” label to make sure your beauty products are “cruelty-free.” This symbol, created by the The Coalition For Consumer Information On Cosmetics, is the only international standard for personal care products indicating that they have not been tested on animals.
4. Don’t Leave A Carbon Footprint On Your Face: O.K., so you’ve cut back on the amount of oil and gas you use in your car, now how about reducing the carbon footprint of the chemicals you use on your body? Petroleum derivatives are found in a surprising number of personal care products such as lip balm, lotions, and lubricants, as well as the plastics used in sanitary products. Pass on products that use petroleum or its derivatives (paraffin oil, propylene glycol, and ethylene) and look for alternatives such as beeswax, cocoa butter, and vegetable oils instead.
5. Skip Disposables: According the environmental news website Grist , 2 billion disposable razors end up in United States landfills each year. Invest in a reusable and refillable razor to save money and take a knick out the waste stream.

Sunscreen is as pivotal to summer fun as bathing suits and sandy toes. So you may be surprised to learn that the brand you’re using may not be as effective as you thought. In fact, in an extensive Sunscreen Survey, the non-profit Environmental Working Group tested 1,026 sunscreen brands and concluded:

“86% of sunscreen products offer inadequate protection
from the sun, or contain ingredients
with significant safety concerns.”

Confused about which sunscreen to use? Here’s the scoop:

Chemical vs. Mineral

Chemical-based sunscreens are designed to absorb the sun’s rays with compounds such as benzophenone, homosalate, padimate-0, parsol 1789 (avobenzone) and octyl methoxycinnamate (octinoxate.) Unfortunately, these chemicals are as bad as they sound. For starters, they have been linked to health effects such as hormonal changes and DNA damage. In addition, most chemical sunscreens only protect against the sun’s UVB rays (the cause of sunburns) not its UVA rays (those responsible for skin cancer and accelerated aging.)

Mineral sunblocks that use titanium dioxide or zinc oxide are a better choice for sun protection because they block both UVB and UVA rays. They are healthier than chemical formulas because they are designed to lay on top of the skin rather than being absorbed into it. But because of this, they leave a layer of white on the skin (ever see a lifeguard with a white nose…that’s mineral sunblock).

The Nano Effect

In an effort to minimize this “white nose” effect, some mineral sunscreen manufacturers are using formulas containing nano-meter sized particles of their chemical components. This allows the product to be absorbed into the skin more readily (so that it becomes transparent); however, titanium and zinc oxide are two chemicals that you really don’t want to absorb into your skin.

For instance, unlike larger particles of titanium oxide, nanoparticles can enter the bloodstream and damage brain cells.

The Bottom Line

Choose a mineral based sunblock that aims for transparency without nano-particles…oh, and don’t forget to put it on! Here are a few brands to try:

Alba Botanica
Avalon Organics
Burt’s Bees
California Baby
Dr. Hauschka
JASON Natural