The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) revealed independent testing on Tuesday finding a cancer-causing chemical in 98 shampoos, soaps and other personal care products sold by major national retailers. The chemical, cocamide diethanolamine (cocamide DEA), a chemically-modified form of coconut oil used as a thickener or foaming agent in many products, was listed by California as a known carcinogen last year.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
Products tested with high levels of cocamide DEA include shampoos made by Colgate Palmolive, Colomer, Paul Mitchell and many others. In addition, products marketed for children and a product falsely labeled as organic were found with the chemical, in violation of California law.
CEH filed a California lawsuit Tuesday against four companies that sell products containing cocamide DEA, and the nonprofit has sent legal notices to more than 100 other companies that produce and/or sell cocamide DEA-tainted products that their products violate state law.
“Most people believe that products sold in major stores are tested for safety, but consumers need to know that they could be doused with a cancer-causing chemical every time they shower or shampoo,” said Michael Green, executive director of CEH. “We expect companies to take swift action to end this unnecessary risk to our children’s and families’ health.”
In addition to many brand name shampoos and personal care products (see the full list, below), the CEH testing found cocamide DEA in store-brand products purchased at Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Pharmaca and Kohl’s. A store brand children’s bubble bath from Kmart and a children’s shampoo/conditioner from Babies R Us were also found with cocamide DEA. Falsely labeled organic products from Organic by Africa’s Best also tested for high levels of the cancer-causing chemical (CEH previously won a legal settlement with this company requiring it to end its use of phony organic labels).
CEH has purchased the shampoos and other products containing cocamide DEA at Bay Area, CA, locations of major retailers and from online retailers since June, and commissioned an independent lab to determine the total content of the chemical in the products. In many cases, products contain more than 10,000 ppm cocamide DEA, and one shampoo tested at more than 200,000 ppm (20 percent) cocamide DEA. California listed cocamide DEA in June 2012 as a chemical known to cause cancer based on the assessment by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which evaluated skin exposure tests on animals.
PRODUCT | BRAND NAME | COMPANY | RETAILER |
Classic clean shampoo (for all hair types) | Prell | Ultimark Products | Walgreens |
Medicated Conditioning Shampoo | MG217 | Lake Consumer Products | Rite Aid |
Daily Shampoo | American Crew Classic | American Crew | Kmart |
Olive Oil Shampoo | Organics by Africa's Best | House of Cheatham | Glamour Beauty Supply |
Caprice (Acti-Ceramidas Shampoo) | Palmolive | Colgate-Palmolive Co. | FoodMaxx |
Mane 'n Tail Shampoo | Straight Arrow | Straight Arrow Products | FoodMaxx |
Climate Control Defrizzing Shampoo | Ouidad | Ouidad Products | Sephora |
TUI (moisturizing sulfate-free shampoo) | Carols Daughter | Carols Daughter Products | Sephora |
Brilliance Shampoo | Rusk | Rusk | Kmart |
Kid's Bubble Bath (Bubble Gum Scent) | Little Ones/Kmart | Kmart | Kmart |
Clasic Herbal Essence Shampoo (all hair types) | Vanart | Made by Estilo Y Vanidad, Distributed by Midway Importing | Kmart |
Therapeutic Anti-Dandruff Shampoo | TopCare | Topco Associates, LLC | Lucky |
Cleanse Hydrating Shampoo | BIOSILK | Farouk Systems | Lucky |
Maximum Strength Medicated Dandruff Shampoo | Equate | Walmart | Walmart |
Awapuhi Ginger Shampoo | Organix | Vogue International | Walgreens |
"Ricitos de Oro" Chamomile Baby Shampoo | Grisi | unknown | Walgreens |
Cabellino Shampoo Chile Con Romero | Grandall | Grandall Dist. Co | Kmart |
Dandruff Shampoo Selenium Sulfide | Image Essentials | Kmart | Kmart |
Nutress Hair Protein Pack Treatment Shampoo | nutresshair | Gabel’s Cosmetics, Inc. | Glamour Beauty Supply |
Treatment Curly Hair Moisturizing Shampoo Keratin and Cupuacu Butter | nuNAAT | nuNAAT | Glamour Beauty Supply |
Luxury Care 3 Plus Frizz Control Shampoo | Luxury Care | Inspired Beauty Brands, Inc. | Glamour Beauty Supply |
Anti Breakage Neutralizing Shampoo Gel | Mega Growth | Strength Of Nature | Glamour Beauty Supply |
Tea Tree Special Shampoo | Paul Mitchell | John Paul Mitchell Systems | Glamour Beauty Supply |
Plant Extracts & Moroccan Argan oil Dry, Itchy Scalp Shampoo Controls Dandruff | At One With Nature | BioCare Lab | Glamour Beauty Supply |
Gentle Cleansing & Conditioning Shampoo Aromatic Natural Essences pH balanced | Calm Cleanse | Johnson Products Co. | Glamour Beauty Supply |
Hair Polisher Shampoo with "Sparkle Lites" | Fantasia | Fantasia Industries | Glamour Beauty Supply |
African Essence Neutralizing Shampoo Plus Proteins and Conditioners | African Essence | Universal Beauty Products | Glamour Beauty Supply |
VIA Natural Style Moisturizing Shampoo | VIA | Universal Beauty Products | Glamour Beauty Supply |
Fair Trade Honey Shampoo | Lush | Lush | Lush |
Sunflower & Coconut Detangling Conditioning Shampoo | Crème Of Nature | Colomer USA | Safeway |
Medicated Shampoo Slednium Sulfide Dandruff Shampoo | up&up | Target | Target |
Salon Shampoo (for Extra-Dry Hair) | Parnevu | Advantage Research Laboratories | Lynas Beauty Depot |
Shea Butter Shampoo | Sofn'freen'pretty | M&M Products Company | Lynas Beauty Depot |
Conditioning Shampoo | Luster's Pink Brand | Luster Products, Inc. | Lynas Beauty Depot |
Coconut Oil Formula Conditioning Shampoo | Palmer's | E.T. Browne Drug Co. | Lynas Beauty Depot |
Neutralizing Shampoo (With DL Panthenol) | Vitale | AFAM Concept | Lynas Beauty Depot |
Extra Moisturizing Hand Wash | Dermasil/Rise International Group LLC | Rise International Group | 99 Cent Only Stores |
Moisturizing Shampoo with Panthenol (Placenta & Vitamin E) | La Bella | Newhall Laboratories, Inc. | 99 Cent Only Stores |
Despicable Me Hand Wash (tickled pink rose bonbon) | Delon Laboratories | Delon Laboratories | 99 Cent Only Stores |
Tingling Gro Shampoo with Flaking Control | Doo Gro | Nature's Protein | Sally Beauty Company |
KeraCare Anti-Dandruff Moisturizing Shampoo | KeraCare | Avlon Industries, Inc. | Macy's |
Dandruff Moisturizing Shampoo | Folicure | Alberto Culver USA | Sally Beauty Company |
Mixed Berry Anti-Bacterial Foaming Hand Soap | Simple Pleasures | Tri-Coastal Design | Kohl's |
Vanilla Rose Bubble Bath | Simple Pleasures | Paula Scaletta Licensed to Tri-Coastal Design | Kohl's |
berry burst shower gel | scentsations by bodysource | Made Especially for Kohl's Department Store | Kohl's |
Lemon Handwash Gift Set | Brompton and Langley | Upper Canada Soap | Sears |
French Lavender Hand and Body Wash Gift Set | Amelie's Garden | Upper Canada Soap | Sears |
Moroccanoil Extra Volume Shampoo | Moroccanoil | Moroccanoil | Blooming Beauty |
Julius Caesar Redreshing Citrus Scent Concentrated Shower Gel | Zirch Warrior Collection | TPR Holdings LLC | Marshalls |
I love Vanilla & Ice Cream Bubble Bath and Shower Gel | I love… | I love cosmetics limited | Ross |
Coconut Lime Handsoap | Pure Passion | Biolab International Inc. | Ross |
Lalaloopsy Cotton Candy Bubble Bath | Lalaloopsy | Added Extras | Ross |
Super Minty Soapy Suds Body wash + Bubbling Bath | Bliss | Bliss | Ross |
Olive & Shea Mositurizing Shower Wash Vanilla Spice | Tree Hut | Naterra International | Ross |
Organic Cleanse Deep Cleansing Shampoo with Oatmeal Protein | Design Essentials | McBride Research Laboratories | JC Penny |
Moisturizing Shampoo for all hair types | Body Time | Body Time | Body Time |
Lemon Kitchen Hand Soap | Trader Joe's | Trader Joe's | Trader Joe's |
All Natural moisturizing Shower Gel Yuzu | ShiKai | ShiKai Products | Andronico's |
2 in1 Shampoo and Conditioner | Toys R Us | Toys R Us | Babies 'R' Us |
Body Wash ylang ylang & ginger | Pharmaca | Pharmaca | Pharmaca |
avocado oil moisturizing shower gel | Australian Organics | Kent Cosmetics | TJ Maxx |
Lemon Balm White Musk Hand Wash | D&H Australia | Dickens & Hawthorne Australia | TJ Maxx |
Eucalyptus Aloe Hand Soap | CST | CST | TJ Maxx |
Honey B Crème Handwash | Scottish Fine Soaps | Scottish Fine Soaps Company | TJ Maxx |
Enriched wtith Argan oil Restorative Shampoo | Beauty Products Mgoador | Chic Cosmetic Ind. | TJ Maxx |
White Nectarine & Pear Cleansing Hand Wash | Boutique | Grace Cole Co. | TJ Maxx |
Lavender Conditioning Handwash | Brown & Harris England | HotHouse Partnerships LTD | TJ Maxx |
English Rose Moisturizing Hand Wash | A & S | Asquith & Somerset | TJ Maxx |
Best Face Forward Daily Foaming Cleanser Passionfruit + Green Tea | Formula 10.0.6 | Aspire Brands | Ulta |
Triple Action Bath, Shower, & Hair Wash Revitalizing Rosemary Mint | c. Booth simple. Natural. Trusted. | Freeman Beauty Labs/ pH Beauty Labs | Ulta |
Advanced Volume Shampoo with Expansion Technology | Nick Chavez | Perfect Plus | Ulta |
Bubble Bath Calm One with lemon balm | Calm All | The Soap & Glory Cosmetics | Sephora |
Lemon Basil Shea Butter Hand Soap | Michel Design Works | Michel Design Works | Bristol Farms |
Philip B. Peppermint & Avocado Volumizing and Clarifying Shampoo | Phillip B. | Phillip B Inc. | Bloomingdale's |
Lemon Verbena Hand Wash Gel | Accessory Zone | Accessory Zone | Sears |
Mango Body Wash | Boots | The Boots Company | Target |
Citrus Blush Shower Gel | Champneys | Boots Retail | Target |
White Tea and Ginger Neutralizing Shampoo | Ampro/Pro Styl/ Neutra Foam | Ampro Industries | Lucky |
Lychee Flower Hand And Body Wash | Mor | Mor | Nordstrom Rack |
Zinc Shampoo | DHS | Person & Covey Inc. | hairenvy.com |
Bubble Bath Sweet Water | RRYSpa | RRYSpa | burlington coat factory |
Skinny Girl Shower Gel Margarita | Skinny Girl | Lotta Luv | burlington coat factory |
Peppermint Bubble Bath | Elegant Home Design | Elegant Home Design | burlington coat factory |
Apothecary Lemon Verbana Bath and Shower Gel | Apothecary | International Design Associates | burlington coat factory |
French Lavender Cleansing Hand Wash | Baylis & Harding England | Baylis & Harding PLC | burlington coat factory |
American Crew Classic Daily Shampoo | American Crew | American Crew | Saks Fifth Avenue |
Herb Hand Soap | Daiso | Daiso Industries | Daiso |
Hair Plump Volumizing Shampoo | Big & Bold | Fisk Industries | Beauty Palace |
Blondes Lemon flower Shampoo | ARTEC | ARTec Systems Group | Beauty Palace |
Rejuvi Shower Cream | Rejuvi | Rejuvi Laboratory Inc. | Dermstore.com |
The Revitalizer Body Wash (Cucumber + Grapefruit) | Portico | Portico Home + Spa | Dermstore.com |
Colour Protecting Caviar Shampoo | Kelly Van Gogh | Kelly Van Gogh LLC | Dermstore.com |
Walnut Body Scrub | Banzai Living Inc | Banzai Living Inc | Ichiban Kan |
Clear Lemon & Mint Body Soap | Aroma Resort | PMAI | Ichiban Kan |
Bath/Shower Gelee with Green Tea and Aloe | Dr. Michelle Copeland | Dr. Michelle Copeland Skin Care | Dermstore.com |
Lavender Shower Gel with cucumber, arnica, and aloe vera | elizabeth W san francisco | E Wightnan & Co | Dermstore.com |
Caring Hand Wash Fig & Pink Cedar | Nougat London | Nougat London | Tuesday Morning |
Hydrating Shampoo | Moroccanoil | Moroccanoil | Regis Salon |