Johnson & Johnson Shampoo Contains Chemicals

Would You Use Johnson & Johnson's Baby Shampoo?

May 28, 2009

The family company known for its "no more tears" shampoo has been asked by 40 parent, healthcare, and environmental organizations to remove known chemicals from its products by the end of the year. One report said:

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reported in March that it found Johnson & Johnson's Baby Shampoo and other children's products contained formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane, both of which have been found to cause cancer in animals and listed by the Environmental Protection Agency as probable human carcinogens.

A Johnson & Johnson representative said the trace levels were considered safe by some regulatory agencies. Would you take a chance using this on your babe?

Poll Chemicals Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo

28 Comments

stella4 2 years 9 weeks

If your looking for an all natural, all safe baby shampo, try Shaklee baby shampo. It's from a company called Shaklee. Dr. Shaklee stated it. He was the first to come up with all green products before all green was big. He was big on all natural, all green and all safe products. Shaklee has been around for over 54 years and are known for their products. It has been on Opra and Dr. Oz. All of Shaklee products are tested my their scientists and they spend over thousands of dollars on 3rd parties to test their products as well to make sure they are safe. If interested, check out www. happieru.myshaklee.com. I love their products and will never buy shampo from stores again!

3 years 51 weeks

I do use their products. When I learned johnsons had chemicals in it I bought burt's bees lotions and soaps. After the first time using it my daughter broke out in a rash. My doctor told me it was from her laundry detergent. So I used the soap and lotion again and my poor 7 month old had such a severe reaction that we wound up in the hospital at 3 am where we had to give my daughter 3X the allergy medication for her age and weight every few hours. Organic is not always better. The only thing I can use on my daughter that doesn't give her a rash is Johnsons. People forget to ask amounts when they see that chemicals are "used" it's like .001 per ounce. It was used on me and it's my only choice and frankly I trust a company that's been around much longer than a newer company that hasn't been used as long. If someone can find me a real person that got cancer from johnsons and only johnsons then I will change my mind

Pencils 3 years 51 weeks

And it's quite true, everything is chemicals, even "nature-based" products. Your body is made up of chemicals. The point is to find products that don't contain chemicals that are known carcinogens. There are fewer of them in "natural" products, but you still have to read the label carefully. Lots of companies slap "natural" or "organic" on the front of their labels but you have to read the rest to find out which parts are actually natural or organic, if the entire product isn't.

Pencils 3 years 51 weeks

I don't use their products anyway. I use Kiehl's baby soap/shampoo, Baby Silk products (wipes, lotion), and a few Burt's Bees products. It's not as easy as it sounds though, to "Just remove some chemicals." If the chemicals are in there, they are there for a reason, and to remove them means J&J has to reformulate their product, one they've been selling for a very long time. It takes a long time to bring a product to market: formulate it, test it, etc.

Pencils 3 years 51 weeks

leeluvfashion 3 years 51 weeks

Okay, since the term "chemical" can cover all matter, I will rephrase my sentence: "Why use toxic (ex: carcinogenic) products on children."

leeluvfashion 3 years 51 weeks

Okay, since the term "chemical" can cover all matter, I will rephrase my sentence:"Why use toxic (ex: carcinogenic) products on children."

Evalicious 3 years 51 weeks

I'm at a loss here - I used it growing up and I feel fine. I've used their products since the first day my daughter was born. Now I feel guilty for what I may have exposed her to, but still trust it since it's been around and used by so many.

runningesq 3 years 51 weeks

I think it's SO FUNNY that people say "oh, chemicals are AWFUL!" Guess what? EVERYTHING has chemicals in it ! Question: What Is a Chemical? Answer: Short answer: Everything is a chemical. Longer answer: Chemistry is the study of matter and its interactions with other matter. Anything made of matter is therefore a chemical. Any liquid, solid, gas. Any pure substance; any mixture. Water is a chemical. Technically speaking, so is a chunk of your computer. A chemical can often be broken down into components, as is true with your computer. However, people generally use the term 'chemical' to refer to a substance that appears homogeneous or the same throughout its structure.

runningesq 3 years 51 weeks

I think it's SO FUNNY that people say "oh, chemicals are AWFUL!"Guess what? EVERYTHING has chemicals in it !Question: What Is a Chemical?Answer: Short answer: Everything is a chemical. Longer answer: Chemistry is the study of matter and its interactions with other matter. Anything made of matter is therefore a chemical. Any liquid, solid, gas. Any pure substance; any mixture. Water is a chemical. Technically speaking, so is a chunk of your computer. A chemical can often be broken down into components, as is true with your computer. However, people generally use the term 'chemical' to refer to a substance that appears homogeneous or the same throughout its structure.

LuvLeoDiCaprio 3 years 51 weeks

Wow my family grew up using J& J all of us, my neices as well. I can't really imagine using something else as we are all healthy. Also it says they are proabable human carcinogens not definetly. And newsflash most products contain things that do pose some risk.

3 years 51 weeks

I wonder how this website can complain about Johnson & Johnson's but accept advertising from Unilever. This is the third post in two months on the Sugar Network about the "toxins" in J&J products. Maybe they are getting paid to make these posts?

POPSUGAR Moms 3 years 51 weeks

Chouette4U — Bert's Bees is a popular line that can be purchased many places from baby stores to Target.

leeluvfashion 3 years 51 weeks

Nope. I do not have any children however someday when the time comes, I will only use natural, organic products. Natural sources are the safest way to go. Why use chemical based products on children? It puzzles me.

cuteshoez 3 years 51 weeks

Check out safemama.com cheat sheets for products that are safe. I've found some brands at Target, Longs and CVS stores.

Chouette4u 3 years 51 weeks

What baby/toddler bath products are safe? And I mean stuff that I don't have to go to Whole Foods to get.

fsquaash 3 years 51 weeks

LilSugar, you might enjoy www.stats.org. According George Mason University, the study that came to this conclusion was from an activist organization and not properly peer reviewed. Fermeldehyde occurs naturally in some fruits and veggies. "Chemicals" occur in nature and are not always dangerous. Banning all of them from our lives is not realistic nor safe. Our babies need chemicals to keep them well (medicine), safe (carseat plastics), and clean (shampoo!). I don't understand why just the mention of "Chemical" is so disturbing. Here's the relevant article--http://www.stats.org/stories/2009/baby_bath_cancer_mar13_09.html

Courtney82 3 years 51 weeks

I love comments like the give me a break one? are you serious?? when my mother used the product it wasn't know that it had chemicals. Just like when cigarettes came out people didn't know how harmful it really was. Maybe you are okay now, but the long term we dont know and maybe you didnt get sick but some kids did. maybe i am overprotected but I have lost a child and i will do anything to prevent if I can my daughter from suffering

Courtney82 3 years 51 weeks

I love comments like the give me a break one? are you serious?? when my mother used the product it wasn't know that it had chemicals. Just like when cigarettes came out people didn't know how harmful it really was. Maybe you are okay now, but the long term we dont know and maybe you didnt get sick but some kids did.maybe i am overprotected but I have lost a child and i will do anything to prevent if I can my daughter from suffering

snowysakurasky 3 years 51 weeks

no i have a bunch of it sittng around that i got for gifts... i use burts bees:) it smells better too. i did spend about 15 dollars on the bottle but it has lasted quite a while

FrankiLee 3 years 51 weeks

Nope I don't use their products. I use shampoo's and baby washes with as little chemicals in as possible, such as "Live Clean" baby products.

runningesq 3 years 51 weeks

My god, we all grew up with all this stuff.... and suddenly parents are supposed to spend $15 on organic baby shampoo. Give me a freaking break.

3 years 51 weeks

What is with people knowing these chemicals cause cancer and shrugging their shoulders and stating they will still use these products??? That boggles my mind.

3 years 51 weeks

I really had no idea ... I do use some of their products on my son. I will definitely think twice when it comes time to buy replacements. It is so hard these days ... it seems like everywhere you look there is something that can potentially harm your children. You can drive yourself crazy thinking about it.

POPSUGAR Moms 3 years 51 weeks

I steer clear of Johnson & Johnson products for this reason. The world is full of chemicals, but I try avoiding those I can for my children.