Despite scare, shampoo stays on store shelves
By Zhang Xuanchen and Lydia Chen |
July 16, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Chinese herbal shampoo maker whose products were accused of containing a carcinogenic chemical said it will not make any refunds or pull the shampoos off the market.
BaWang International (Group) said it will not consider further actions until test results come out to determine whether the amount of dioxane, a colorless and nontoxic compound in its products, is dangerous to users.
The Guangzhou-based company, which hired superstars like Jackie Chan and singer Faye Wong as image-bearers, had already sent samples to a third-party institute for checks, it said.
To calm customers, the Hong Kong-listed company said the amount of the chemical in the three products named by a Hong Kong magazine was less than 10ppm, which means there is one part of substance out of one million, according to a statement posted on its website yesterday.
The United States Food and Drug Administration's limit is 20ppm.
Chinese mainland and Hong Kong haven't set a specific limit on the amount of dioxane permitted in shampoo and other personal care products.
Taiwan has banned any personal care products containing more than 100ppm, according to the Oriental Morning Post.
The dioxane that forms as a byproduct during the manufacturing of shampoo is inevitable in personal care products and won't harm people's health, according to BaWang's statement.
Meanwhile, the agent company of movie star Jackie Chan, who has been ambassador for the BaWang brand for five years, said it fully trusted the product and its company.
Chan was abroad and didn't know anything about the controversy. Faye Wong was not available for comments, Beijing Times reported yesterday.
Dioxane is irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. It is suspected of causing damage to the central nervous system, liver and kidneys.
The US Environmental Protection Agency classifies the chemical as a probable human carcinogen and a known carcinogen in animals. It is classified in the US state of California as cancer-causing.
The chemical, when applied in cosmetics and personal care products such as deodorants, shampoos, toothpastes and mouthwashes, can improve foaming characteristics.
This was the second time media reports uncovered the presence of dioxane in personal care products.
On March 20, a baby shower shampoo made by New Jersey-based manufacturer Johnson & Johnson was found to contain traces of dioxane, said the Central Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, China's top quality authority.
People could be killed if they digest 500mg/kg of dioxane through the mouth. A mouse can get a tumor if injected with 1,440 mg/kg of the chemical every few days for 60 continuous weeks.
BaWang International (Group) said it will not consider further actions until test results come out to determine whether the amount of dioxane, a colorless and nontoxic compound in its products, is dangerous to users.
The Guangzhou-based company, which hired superstars like Jackie Chan and singer Faye Wong as image-bearers, had already sent samples to a third-party institute for checks, it said.
To calm customers, the Hong Kong-listed company said the amount of the chemical in the three products named by a Hong Kong magazine was less than 10ppm, which means there is one part of substance out of one million, according to a statement posted on its website yesterday.
The United States Food and Drug Administration's limit is 20ppm.
Chinese mainland and Hong Kong haven't set a specific limit on the amount of dioxane permitted in shampoo and other personal care products.
Taiwan has banned any personal care products containing more than 100ppm, according to the Oriental Morning Post.
The dioxane that forms as a byproduct during the manufacturing of shampoo is inevitable in personal care products and won't harm people's health, according to BaWang's statement.
Meanwhile, the agent company of movie star Jackie Chan, who has been ambassador for the BaWang brand for five years, said it fully trusted the product and its company.
Chan was abroad and didn't know anything about the controversy. Faye Wong was not available for comments, Beijing Times reported yesterday.
Dioxane is irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. It is suspected of causing damage to the central nervous system, liver and kidneys.
The US Environmental Protection Agency classifies the chemical as a probable human carcinogen and a known carcinogen in animals. It is classified in the US state of California as cancer-causing.
The chemical, when applied in cosmetics and personal care products such as deodorants, shampoos, toothpastes and mouthwashes, can improve foaming characteristics.
This was the second time media reports uncovered the presence of dioxane in personal care products.
On March 20, a baby shower shampoo made by New Jersey-based manufacturer Johnson & Johnson was found to contain traces of dioxane, said the Central Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, China's top quality authority.
People could be killed if they digest 500mg/kg of dioxane through the mouth. A mouse can get a tumor if injected with 1,440 mg/kg of the chemical every few days for 60 continuous weeks.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
