Kristal Moffett - How Soft Is that Label?

Wanna know if there are any red flags on that label?  Take a pic and email it to info@cancerschmancer.org, and we'll break it down for you.

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Q: Dear Kristal, I've been usuing this "environmentally friendly" dish soap for years and thought it was okay, but after attending a Trash Cancer party, I'm wondering if there are any red flags.  Can you help?

A:  Just off the bat this looks like "soft labeling."  That means they don't list everything that is in it. What accounts for 100% biodegradable preservatives?  Also, what is the natural citrus scent?  Is that 100% citrus oil?  That is more expensive than fragrance so why not list that if in fact they use essential oils?  This label is very vague.

If they were following regulations they would be going by INCI system. That system requires you to put every ingredient on the label. This includes ingredients within ingredients. For example, one might be able to buy "100% biodegradable preservatives" from the chemist. Then the company labels it as such. What the consumer doesn't know is that those preservatives were processed with chemicals. By INCI standards you would have to list all of those chemicals. Most companies do not.

A little info about that generic ingredient "100% plant derived perservatives" -- Be aware that some "plant-derived" ingredients are claimed to be "natural" but have been processed using synthetic chemicals, which alters the chemical components of the ingredients so much to render it no longer a natural product.  The word "natural" can be misleading.

The questions you need to ask:

  • Have any of the "plant-derived" ingredients been altered or modified using chemical processing?

  • Has there been any chemical or synthetic process involved to modify or alter the natural chemical components of its final composition?

  • Does the extraction process damage or destroy the beneficial properties of the ingredient?

Some examples of ‘plant-derived’ ingredients that are not 100% natural:

  • Shea Butter (refined): The wax is extracted from the karite nut and then chemically and manually refined and bleached using chemical solvents. (Many products in the market contain Shea Butter that has been refined – always try and buy products containing shea butter that is stated as being ‘unrefined’.)
  • Sodium Hydroxymethlglycinate (plant-derived preservative – based on glycine (natural amino acid) but requires highly synthetic processing to produce, and is known to be a skin and eye irritant).
  • Suttocide A (plant-derived preservative – contains a 50% aqueous solution of Sodium Hydroxymethlglycinate, as above)

Also, "natural scent" is just a generic term for fragrance.  Personally, I would not use this stuff unless they decided to list every single one of their ingredients, but I would need to research this product more before redlining it.   But just a note as a mom, the warning to "Keep Out Of Reach Of Children" doesn't inpsire confidence although some manufactureres put that on everything to avoid lawsuits.