Baby Shampoo Contains Carcinogens

For decades mothers have trusted Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo to gently cleanse their precious ones' hair. It's even the number one choice of hospitals. But the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics sent a letter this week to Johnson& Johnson asking them to remove two harmful chemicals from their formula.

According tests by an independent laboratory, Johnson's baby shampoo had ad 210 parts per million of formaldehyde and a low level of 1,4-dioxane. Formaldehyde and 1,4 dioxane are both probable human carcinogens and formaldehyde is also a skin and eye irritant.

Although the levels are low enough that some may deem them safe, Dr. Sidney Wolfe, acting director of consumer group Public Citizen, said, "Generally with carcinogens, there isn't any safe level."

The FDA does not regulate cosmetics, but in Japan where the product is sold, formaldehyde is prohibited. It is noted that the Johnson's baby shampoo formula sold in Japan does not release formaldehyde.