The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC) asked consumers over the holidays to boycott the purchase of Bath & Body Works products because of potentially harmful ingredients. According to the group, the company's holiday products contain a number of chemicals grouped under the ingredient listing “fragrance.” The ingredients that comprise the fragrance listing reportedly are harmful to consumer health.
Companies are not required to list chemicals in a fragrance mixture on product labels. The ingredients referenced by the CSC included neurotoxins, allergens and phthalates, which are said to cause reproductive problems, testicular cancer and early puberty in girls.
The organization points out that sodium laureth sulfate is a main ingredient in some of the company's products, and notes that the chemical contains 1,4-dioxane, a possible carcinogen. The group questions the use of parabens in some of the products, noting that the chemical can lead to cancer.
The company's American Girl line is said by the CSC to contain irritants, organ sensitizers and suspected carcinogens. The group maintains that exposure to such chemicals during teen years can lead to health problems. For more information, visit www.safecosmetics.org.
