Re: Organic Bytes: Alert- Possible Carcinogen Found in Misleadingly Labeled Organics

Hello Daniel, ORGANIC BYTES #130 Health, Justice and Sustainability News Tidbits with an Edge! 3/14/2008 Written and edited by Craig Minowa and Ronnie Cummins IN THIS ISSUE: CONSUMER ALERT: CANCER-CAUSING INGREDIENT FOUND IN LEADING "ORGANIC" & "NATURAL" PERSONAL CARE PRODCUTS CONSUMER TIP OF THE WEEK: HOW TO AVOID 1,4-DIOXANE IN YOUR PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS QUICK RELATED BLIP: INDUSTRY IGNORES CONSUMER CONCERNS & CREATES BOGUS "OASIS" ORGANIC STANDARD ESSAY OF THE WEEK: OCA DIRECTOR RONNIE CUMMINS ON HOW TO SOLVE AMERICA'S HEALTH CARE CRISIS ALERT OF THE WEEK: FARM WORKERS AND ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS LOSE FREEDOM OF SPEECH SUSTAINABILITY LESSON OF THE WEEK: COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE (CSA) 101 WEIRD NEWS OF THE WEEK: TOXIC SOUP OF PLASTIC TWICE THE SIZE OF U.S. FORMS IN OCEAN BOOK OF THE WEEK: THE WAR ON BUGS WEB PROGRAM OF THE WEEK: A CLOSER LOOK AT CHINESE ORGANICS CONSUMER ALERT: CANCER-CAUSING INGREDIENT FOUND IN LEADING "ORGANIC" & "NATURAL" PERSONAL CARE PRODCUTS A newly released study commissioned by the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) and overseen by environmental health consumer advocate David Steinman (author of The Safe Shopper's Bible), revealed the presence of the undisclosed carcinogenic contaminant 1,4-Dioxane in leading shampoos, body washes, lotions and other personal care and household cleaning products claiming to be "natural" or "organic". The study results, to be released this weekend at the Natural Products Expo in California, are already sending shockwaves through the "organic" and "natural" body care industry. Laboratory tests showed that products certified under the USDA National Organic Program DID NOT contain this toxin, but most of the best selling personal care products claiming to be "organic" (but not USDA certified) contained the cancer-causing ingredient. All leading self-proclaimed "organic" brands have at least a few individual "certified organic" ingredients, but for most of these top-selling brands, the product, as a whole, is not USDA organic certified, thereby allowing the presence of synthetic toxins. Similar studies have revealed the presence of this toxin in conventional personal care products, but this is the first study indicating the presence in misleadingly labeled "organic" and "natural" products. Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/comingclean.cfm _______________________________ CONSUMER TIP OF THE WEEK: HOW TO AVOID 1,4-DIOXANE IN YOUR PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS Some of the products found to contain 1,4-Dioxane: JASON Pure Natural & Organic, Giovanni Organic Cosmetics, Kiss My Face, Nature’s Gate Organics (see a full list of OCA's study results here) Remember that just because a personal care product labels itself with the words "organic" or "certified organic" doesn't mean it meets any specified organic standards. Look for products that are certified under the USDA National Organic Program (or a similar German program) and products that bear the "USDA Organic" seal. Search product labels for ingredients with the following in their names to avoid products containing 1,4-Dioxane: myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth, any other eth, PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, or oxynol. In general, avoid products with unpronounceable ingredients to be sure to avoid synthetic toxins and carcinogens. _______________________________ QUICK RELATED BLIP: INDUSTRY IGNORES CONSUMER CONCERNS & CREATES BOGUS "OASIS" ORGANIC STANDARD A new "organic" standard for personal care products has been created exclusively by conventional industry members like Estee Lauder (owner of Aveda), Loreal and Hain (Jason, Avalon), without any input or comment period from organic consumers, organic farmers or personal care companies who have achieved USDA National Organic Program certification for the majority of their products. The OASIS standard allows a product to be labeled outright as “Organic” (rather than “Made with Organic Specified Ingredients”) even if it contains hydrogenated and sulfated cleansing ingredients like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate made from conventional agricultural material grown with synthetic fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, and preserved with synthetic petrochemical preservatives like Ethylhexylglycerin and Phenoxyethanol. As always, the OCA recommends consumers look for personal care products certified under the USDA National Organic Program. Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_10886.cfm __________________________________   We need your support today to continue to our work fighting for the rights of organic farmers and organic consumers! http://www.organicconsumers.org/donations.htm ________________________________   ESSAY OF THE WEEK: OCA DIRECTOR RONNIE CUMMINS ON HOW TO SOLVE AMERICA'S HEALTH CARE CRISIS The health care crisis in the U.S. is fast becoming a life or death emergency. OCA Director Ronnie Cummins exposes the real roots of this crisis and lays out what we can do about it in his latest article: "Beyond Progressive Malpractice: Taking Down Big Pharma." Read the article and press the politicians on this burning issue: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_10838.cfm __________________________________ ALERT OF THE WEEK: FARM WORKERS AND ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS LOSE FREEDOM OF SPEECH Despite massive opposition from public interest groups and civil libertarians, the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, AETA, became law on November 27, 2007 upon receiving President Bush's signature. Its stated purpose is "to provide the Department of Justice the necessary authority to apprehend, prosecute, and convict individuals committing animal enterprise terror." But AETA is not limited to acts of violence or property destruction. It extends to anyone who attempts to, or conspires to, interfere with an animal enterprise. AETA offers no defense to activists who expose illegal activities. Animal researchers and factory farms that are operating illegally can use AETA to protect themselves from whistle blowers. The effect of AETA is to label social justice activists as terrorists when they work to expose animal cruelty, poor labor conditions, or environmental violations in agribusiness or the biomedical industries. It's time to repeal AETA. Learn more and take action: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_10859.cfm ___________________________________ SUSTAINABILITY LESSON OF THE WEEK: COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE (CSA) 101 The eco-buff's mantra of "buy local" is never quite as easy, tasty or rewarding as during growing season in the Northern Hemisphere. As we prepare for spring to roll into North America, a growing number of farmers are finding support from members of their local communities who are paying for their fair share of the year's harvest via a "subscription" method known as "Community Supported Agriculture" (CSA). There's no easier way to buy local and organic than to find a CSA near you. For a modest subscription fee, you get a variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables brought to your home weekly. Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_10790.cfm ___________________________________ DISTURBING NEWS OF THE WEEK: TOXIC SOUP OF PLASTIC TWICE THE SIZE OF U.S. FORMS IN OCEAN The University of Hawaii is set to launch an expedition with the goal of confirming a new trash "continent" in the Pacific Ocean. A vast expanse of floating trash has been collecting in the Pacific Ocean into a mass that scientists are now referring to as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The thick mass of plastic soup, located approximately 500 miles east of California, is now reported to be twice the size of the Unites States. The collection of debris comes as no surprise to experts in this area. According to a recent report from the UN Environment Programme, on a global level, each square mile of ocean water contains an average of 46,000 pieces of floating garbage. Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_10831.cfm _________________________________ image parody QUOTE OF THE WEEK: GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FISH ESCAPE INTO THE WILD "The result of these weaknesses is that the extent of research under way in Canada and any accidental release of (genetically engineered) fish may not be fully known." Statement in a Canadian Government Audit released this week that reveals lax regulations have allowed untold numbers of experimental frankenfish to escape unreported into natural waterways. http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_10823.cfm ___________________________________ BOOK OF THE WEEK: THE WAR ON BUGS Will Allen, an OCA Advisor, has written a new book that is certain to become an essential tool for consumers and activists, alike. According to a review in The Times Argus: "This is not just a book about popular desserts and their hidden dangers. It is a well-crafted, thoroughly researched literary polemic against the chemical companies and their customers (the farmers) who, by means of advertising, propaganda and other marketing techniques, have lulled consumers into unwittingly purchasing all kinds of farm produce that has been treated with often-dangerous insecticides. In fact, 'The War On Bugs' is also a truly fascinating history of agriculture not only here in the United States but elsewhere, and it is generously illustrated with documents that portray not just the progress of agriculture but the often-hidden costs associated with that progress." ORDER: http://www.chelseagreen.com/2007/items/waronbugs ___________________________________   WEB PROGRAM OF THE WEEK: A CLOSER LOOK AT CHINESE ORGANICS More companies are importing organic products from China and other countries. But contaminated pet food, tainted toothpaste, and unauthorized antibiotics in fish have been imported to the U.S. from China. Now, some people are concerned about organic foods from China. Listen to this informative webcast to learn how this issue affects U.S. consumers: Listen: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_10805.cfm ___________________________________ ******** support our supporters********* Protect Alaskan wildlife—then enter to Win FREE Alaska Trip Imagine an Alaskan landscape: vast forests and lakes, home to moose, bears, and millions of migratory birds. With your quick action today, we can keep this place free of oil rigs. What’s more, not only can you help protect the land from oil development, but you’ll have the chance to enter to win a free trip to Alaska! The federal government is considering giving away precious wildlife habitat in Alaska’s Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge to oil development. Click here to voice your opposition. Once you’ve taken action, you can enter to win a free trip for two to Alaska.   ________________________ EDEN FOODS OFFERS OCA CUSTOMERS 15% DISCOUNT Eden Foods is one of the few national organic food producers who goes beyond the USDA Organic Standards. Although Eden Foods is USDA certified, their products do not bear the USDA seal, because they say the USDA standard really represents a "minimum standard" that Eden Foods goes far beyond. As a subscriber to Organic Bytes, you can enjoy a discount rate on any Eden Foods products by clicking here   Please forward this publication to family and friends, place it on websites, print it, duplicate it and post it freely. Knowledge is power! __________________________________ NOTE TO CO-OP AND NATURAL FOOD STORE SUBSCRIBERS: Organic Bytes is a great tool for keeping your staff and customers up to date on the latest issues. Feel free to forward this email to your staff and print for posting on bulletin boards and staff break tables. You are also welcome to use this material for your newsletters. There's an attractive print-friendly PDF version of this available for free download at http://www.organicconsumers.org/organicbytes.cfm _________________________________ ORGANIC BYTES is a publication of: ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION 6771 South Silver Hill Drive Finland, Minnesota 55603 Phone: (218)- 226-4164 Fax: (218) 353-7652 __________________________________ Subscribe: http://www.organicconsumers.org/organicbytes.htm __________________________________   xaxa93168