What is in this article?:
- Organic cosmetics lawsuit: Is your personal care falsely labeled?
- Could new-labeling time lag be to blame?
- Product line variety can cause labeling, branding inconsistencies
- The verdict? Lawsuits put on the pressure, but retailer, consumer decisions shape change
Many manufacturers are removing "organic" from their front labels to meet Whole Foods' new requirements, but a California-based environmental group recently filed a lawsuit—against some of the very companies making adjustments—alleging false organic claims. We take a look at the issues surrounding personal care marketing and how consumers and retailers can get clarity.
The lawsuit filed last week against 26 cosmetics companies proves the organic labeling debate is still very much a concern for the natural personal care industry. According to California-based environmental group the Center for Environmental Health (CEH), dozens of shampoos, lotions, toothpastes, and other personal care products are violating a California law stating any personal care product with "organic" on the front of the package must contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients, and those with less than 70 percent organic ingredients can only use "organic" on the ingredient lists.
"For years, organic advocates have called on personal care companies to fix their improper 'organic' labels, but our recent purchasing shows the industry is still rife with unsubstantiated organic claims," Michael Green, executive director of CEH, said in a press release.
After purchasing products from a variety of conventional and natural products retailers including Target, Walgreens, and Whole Foods, CEH reported that many products weren't 70 percent organic and some even contained harsh ingredients like BHA, cocoamide DEA, and parabens linked to health concerns including cancer and hormone disruption. What gave these products away, according to the CEH? Their ingredient lists.
