LABEL LIBEL: Should you believe what you read?

 

ECO consumers (BEE Greeners in particular I think!) are among most informed and discriminate buyers in the marketplace. We tend to research not only the products we buy, but the companies that produce those products. We carefully scan product labels for ingredients that could expose our families or the environment to harmful chemicals (We are sort of awsome!).  However, the question I pose in this post is: "Can we rely on product labeling to give us good information about the products we buy?" According to recent research, it seem like the answer is....maybe not.
 
In a recent study published in Environmental Health Perspectives (this is a serious study guys!) aimed at highlighting the limitations of FDA regualtions around product labeling, researchers at the Silent Spring Institute went ahead and tested 213 household products across 30 different categories for the presence of chemicals associated with endocrine disruption and asthma.  What they found was that, both the conventional products they tested, as well as their "alternative" counterparts (or products marketed to be "safer alternatives") contained concerning chemical compounds (including BPA), and very few of these chemicals were included on product labels.  How is this possible? 

Something most advocates of product labeling know, (and many consumers don't) is that according to FDA regulation, not all ingredients are required to be listed on product ingredients labels (Yikes!).  Ingredients considered "incidental", like fragrance for instance, are not to required to have their ingredients itemized on a product label.  Some products, including cleaning products, are only required to list "active ingredients", microbials to be specific, but no other ingredients.   Bacisally, what this study confirmed was that "we cannot trust product labeling to make good decisions about the products we buy!"
 
One group working towards a goal of more accurate product labeling, and specifically looking at the issue of chemicals in consumer products is the "Environmental Working Goup". They have a great website with information about products, great (reliable) research, as well as suggestions about how you can help to promote positive changes in labeling regualtions for consumers like you. Here's the link: http://www.ewg.org/
 
Meanwhile, for us consumers still looking for ways to make good purchasing decisions, the Silent Spring Institute, the researchers referenced in the above study, are offering some suggestions for you to follow when choosing products for your home. Here is a link to that information:  http://www.silentspring.org/tips-card-top-12-tips-greening-your-cleaning-and-personal-care
 
Also... if you are interested in knowing more about labeling in the food you buy, here is a great video of at "TED" talk by Urvashi Ragan, Ph.D who leads the Consumer Safety and Sustainability Group for Consumer Reports.  In this video Dr. Ragan critiques 10 different food labels, including "natural" "fresh" and "free range".  It's pretty interesting/informative!   http://www.greenerchoices.org/products.cfm?product=0212fablestolabels&pcat=food

Thanks for reading our very first blog!

The folks at BEE Green Cleaning!