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EU: Nivea Contains Questionable Chemicals |
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Written by Jessica Smith
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Thursday, 19 November 2009 |
A large number of Nivea skin products contain up to four chemicals that are to be found on the European Union list of substances suspected of causing hormonal disturbances, according to a list from the Danish Consumer Council.
Over the past week, the council has asked consumers to report skin
products containing substances that are said to potentially disturb
hormonal balance, and has received reports of some 400 products. Nivea
is at the top of the list with 28 products reported – among others
facial cream for men, sun lotion and creams for women.
Another brand with eight products for both men and women on the list is Biotherm.
One consumer who has reported to the council is Lisbeth E. Christensen
from Odense who has reported her Biotherm body lotion Lait Corpore.
“I was really happy with it until I found out how much rubbish it
contains. Now it’s going straight into the dustbin,” Christensen says.
Consumer Council Department Chief Vagn Jelsøe says he has been impressed at consumer interest.
“It shows that this is something consumers are really involved in, and
it shows that the issue of cosmetics with substances that cause
hormonal imbalances is a major problem. Companies and politicians must
now really pull their socks up and stop harmful substances,” Jelsøe
says and urges consumers to continue reporting.
Producer: Not illegal
While Nivea has not wished to comment on the issue, L’Oréal – which owns Biotherm – has responded by e-mail.
“The ingredients in out products are legal, and even though a product
contains an ingredient that is on the EU priority list that you
mention, of substances that potentially cause hormone imbalance, that
is not the same as saying that the product does cause hormonal
imbalance,” L’Oréal says in an e-mail.
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