Did you have a busy summer, too? We sure did, and we wanted to make sure you didn't miss anything important from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.
The biggest news of our summer came on June 24, when Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., joined by Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., introduced the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 (H.R.2359), which would give the Food and Drug Administration authority to ensure that all personal care products, from shampoo to lipstick, are free of harmful ingredients and that all ingredients in the product are disclosed. Existing law, which has not been updated since 1938, has loopholes that allow chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, learning disabilities and other illnesses in products we use on our bodies every day. If you haven't yet, please ask your Representative to co-sponsor this important bill!
Did you see our July action alert and blog post about Bath & Body Works? The company is using triclosan – a chemical that may increase superbugs and hormone disruption – in an array of its body care products, including its summer-scented antibacterial hand soaps. Major companies, like Colgate Palmolive and Johnson & Johnson, have recently agreed to eliminate triclosan from many of their products. Surely Bath & Body Works can stop its unnecessary use of toxic triclosan, too. Email B&BW now to drive the point home!
Also, our partners at Environmental Working Group released their fifth annual sunscreen report, rating 292 brands and 1,700 products. One of the take-homes: Three of five U.S. sunscreens wouldn't be acceptable in Europe.
We're sorry to see summer slipping away, but we have some great things planned for fall! Please keep your eyes peeled and, as always, we appreciate you spreading the word about the Campaign via email and Facebook, and in person using our free materials.
We can't do this work without you – please consider making a tax-deductible donation of $10 or more today to make sure we can keep cleaning up the cosmetics aisle in where you live.
