Cancer danger disputed
By Lydia Chen and Cai Wenjun |
July 15, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A Chinese herbal shampoo maker advertised by kung fu star Jackie Chan yesterday defended itself and said it was "shocked" after a report claimed its products contained a chemical substance that could be carcinogenic.
The Hong Kong-listed BaWang International (Group) said the level of dioxane, a colorless and nontoxic compound, in its products is well within the safety limit prescribed by authorities across the world, including China, EU and the United States.
The products pose no danger to users, the company said in a statement on its website.
"There is absolutely no way the products could jeopardize people's health," the statement emphasized.
All the products were made in line with quality standards and laws in China and have passed several strict checks by quality supervision authorities, the company added.
The statement by the Guangzhou-based company was in response to a magazine report in Hong Kong's Next Media yesterday that said tests run by Hong Kong authorities showed three of BaWang's hair shampoos contain the chemical that has been listed as a cancer-causing substance in the US.
However, the report didn't specify the amount of the chemical the shampoos contain, and neither has the company.
The company pledged it retains all legal rights to sue the reporter after its shares suspended trading yesterday afternoon after closing the morning session at HK$5.05, down 14.1 percent from Tuesday's close.
Wan Yuhua, BaWang's CEO, said dioxane was a substance contained in the raw materials for shampoos and is widely used in the industry.
Officials from Shanghai Food and Drug Administration said yesterday they will closely follow the events and may order laboratory testing on the shampoo if necessary.
Gu Zhenhua from Shanghai FDA said dioxane is forbidden if the producer adds it on purpose or it is mixed into raw materials due to poor quality of the materials.
"If the chemical is inevitable even though the producer uses the best raw materials, the authorities should test its content and evaluate its effects," he said. "If the amount of dioxane is high enough to harm people's health, the authorities will take action."
Dioxane is irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. It is suspected of causing damage to the central nervous system, liver and kidneys.
People could be killed if they digest 500mg/kg of dioxane through the mouth. On animals, a mice can get a tumor if injected with 1,440 mg/kg of the chemical every few days for 60 continuous weeks.
BaWang, which positions itself as a successful home-made brand in the personal care industry, was set up by a descendant of a medical family that can be traced back hundreds of years.
Its products boast herbal ingredients that are safe and helpful to hair care.
Jackie Chan has been the brand's ambassador since 2005.
The Hong Kong-listed BaWang International (Group) said the level of dioxane, a colorless and nontoxic compound, in its products is well within the safety limit prescribed by authorities across the world, including China, EU and the United States.
The products pose no danger to users, the company said in a statement on its website.
"There is absolutely no way the products could jeopardize people's health," the statement emphasized.
All the products were made in line with quality standards and laws in China and have passed several strict checks by quality supervision authorities, the company added.
The statement by the Guangzhou-based company was in response to a magazine report in Hong Kong's Next Media yesterday that said tests run by Hong Kong authorities showed three of BaWang's hair shampoos contain the chemical that has been listed as a cancer-causing substance in the US.
However, the report didn't specify the amount of the chemical the shampoos contain, and neither has the company.
The company pledged it retains all legal rights to sue the reporter after its shares suspended trading yesterday afternoon after closing the morning session at HK$5.05, down 14.1 percent from Tuesday's close.
Wan Yuhua, BaWang's CEO, said dioxane was a substance contained in the raw materials for shampoos and is widely used in the industry.
Officials from Shanghai Food and Drug Administration said yesterday they will closely follow the events and may order laboratory testing on the shampoo if necessary.
Gu Zhenhua from Shanghai FDA said dioxane is forbidden if the producer adds it on purpose or it is mixed into raw materials due to poor quality of the materials.
"If the chemical is inevitable even though the producer uses the best raw materials, the authorities should test its content and evaluate its effects," he said. "If the amount of dioxane is high enough to harm people's health, the authorities will take action."
Dioxane is irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. It is suspected of causing damage to the central nervous system, liver and kidneys.
People could be killed if they digest 500mg/kg of dioxane through the mouth. On animals, a mice can get a tumor if injected with 1,440 mg/kg of the chemical every few days for 60 continuous weeks.
BaWang, which positions itself as a successful home-made brand in the personal care industry, was set up by a descendant of a medical family that can be traced back hundreds of years.
Its products boast herbal ingredients that are safe and helpful to hair care.
Jackie Chan has been the brand's ambassador since 2005.
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