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Transparency in Labeling




Yum

June 11, 2015 by Andrea Fabry 5 Comments

Due to consumer demand, SC Johnson, maker of  products such as Pledge, Glade Air Fresheners, Windex and Scrubbing Bubbles, has announced its intention to disclose chemicals used in fragrances.

Fragrance Disclosure - labeling transparency PT

Transparency in Labeling

The word fragrance on a label indicates the use of dozens of chemicals which are combined to create a unique scent. Product labeling laws do not require disclosure, favoring a company’s trade secrets instead. SC Johnson has responded to the rising consumer demand for label transparency by issuing this policy change:

SC Johnson is the first major company to offer product-specific fragrance disclosure. We started with air care products in the U.S. and Canada, and we’ll be adding other product categories soon.

Our goal is to list all ingredients down to .09 percent of the product formula. If that doesn’t provide at least 10 ingredients, we will list the top 10 if there are at least 20 fragrance ingredients present.

SC Johnson pursues fragrance disclosure policy.

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Disclosing some or all of the chemicals used to create a fragrance is certainly a step forward. However, it’s important to remember that disclosure says nothing about the health effects of these chemicals.  Many are petroleum-based endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCS) which defy the conventional “the dose makes the poison” premise.  Small amounts can disrupt the endocrine system by mimicking or blocking a natural hormone. (See Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals 101.)

What’s more, EDCs have been implicated as potential triggers for breast cancer. The 2011 study Environmental Exposures and Mammary Gland Development: State of the Science, Public Health Implications, and Research Recommendations notes the potential for endocrine disruptors to adversely impact breast development.

Few chemicals coming into the marketplace are evaluated for these effects. The findings in animal studies raise concerns that perturbations to human breast development may increase the risk for later life adverse effects including lactation impairment, gynecomastia (in males), and breast cancer in either sex.

While I applaud SC Johnson’s commitment to transparency, I am reminded that it’s up to us to remain vigilant and proactive when it comes to product labels and the impact of them on our health.

For more about my journey and chemicals in products see “8 Ways I’m Minimizing My Risk of Breast Cancer.“

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    Tags: products, consumer, ingredients, product, chemicals, endocrine

Filed Under: Beauty, Cleaning, Natural Living, Uncategorized Tagged With: breast cancer, chemicals, consumer, disclosure, edcs, endocrine, endocrine disruptors, fragrance, fragrance disclosure, fragranced, ingredients, product, product labeling, sc johnson, transparency, vigilant

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Comments

  1. linda spiker says

    June 16, 2015 at 7:06 am

    Great news! GMO’s next?? As if…

    Reply
  2. Katie | The Antidote Life says

    June 16, 2015 at 8:12 am

    The more transparency the better…hope this means we are moving in the right direction! 🙂

    Reply
  3. Jennifer at Purposeful Nutrition and The Entwife's Journal says

    June 16, 2015 at 8:54 am

    IT is about time. And I agree with you that it still reminds our responsibilities to keep track of this for ourselves. This info does make it easier.

    Reply
  4. Megan Stevens says

    June 16, 2015 at 9:25 am

    Thanks for reporting on this. SUCH baby steps. The ingredients really need to be outlawed.

    Reply
  5. Chloe says

    June 17, 2015 at 10:26 am

    Great news! Although I would never use those products and I don’t think anyone should, the first step is educating people about what is actually in them. Listing the ingredients is essential!

    Reply

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MEET ANDREA

I am a certified Building Biology Advocate, a former journalist, mother of nine, and avid CrossFitter who likes to think outside the box. After our family's health crisis in 2008, I learned to ask questions about what's in our food, our water, and our air. I hope to empower you as you seek to live safely in a complex world. Thankfully, small steps lead to big changes. Let's travel this road together, one step at a time.

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