Study Finds 85% of 113 Personal Care Products Contain Unlabeled Toxic Chemicals

1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 23

85% of 113 products bought from major retailers contained unlabeled toxic chemicals, with researchers identifying 303 compounds and finding products held more than three times as many chemicals as their labels listed.
Phthalates, parabens, PFAS and formaldehyde were among the detected substances, while the broad label “fragrance” or “parfum” can legally mask any of roughly 1,200 hazardous chemicals.
26% of items marketed as “eco,” “green” or “natural” still contained at least one dangerous compound, including synthetic chemicals in “100% natural” products and phthalates in goods labeled “phthalate-free.”
Researchers said contamination could stem from illegal additives, chemical reactions or leaching from plastic packaging, and called for mandatory testing and tighter regulation rather than relying on post-harm evidence.
The findings add to long-running scrutiny of personal care products after a 2022 public health review found Benzene in 27% of 663 tested items, triggering recalls by Procter & Gamble, Bayer and CVS.