Fwd: [S-A] Fwd: Coming Clean Campaign Challenges 'Organic Sham-Poo'

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mistylyn trepke

Thu, 3 Jul 2003 04:27:16 -0700 (PDT)

[s-A] Fwd: Coming Clean Campaign Challenges 'Organic Sham-Poo'

 

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Misty L. Trepke

http://www..com

 

 

Coming Clean Campaign Challenges 'Organic Sham-Poo'

 

Advertisements Educate Consumers About False Organic Claims on Cosmetics

 

 

 

LITTLE MARAIS, MN-The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) is mounting a

national advertising campaign to inform organic consumers about OCA's

new " Coming Clean " campaign for strict organic standards for cosmetics.

Utilizing advertising in major magazines, weekly newspapers and on its

website, OCA is increasing public awareness about so-called " natural "

cosmetics manufacturers mislabeling their products as " organic, " that in

fact are not.

 

The advertisement features " Sham-Poo, " a close approximation of the

products in question, which claims to be " certified 70% organic. " Arrows

pointing to the core ingredients elucidate the fraud of this claim:

" Sham-Poo " consists mostly of synthetic surfactants - many of which are

derived from petroleum - which are obscured by flowery feel-good

sounding organic " floral waters " and/or " herbal infusions or extracts "

that amount to flavored water. The ad explains: " A number of body care

product companies are counting non-agricultural water as organic, to

greenwash their products and make organic label claims, even though

their formulations are largely composed of the synthetic cleansers,

conditioners and preservatives found in mainstream products. This fraud

is destroying the integrity of the organic label. "

 

The advertisements are running through fall 2003 in publications read by

organic consumers and retailers including: Natural Food Merchandiser,

Coop Grocer, Conscious Choice, Utne Reader, Mother Jones, Mothering

Magazine, Natural Home, Vegetarian News and E Magazine. The website,

http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare, provides extensive research

about " natural " cosmetics and information about the organic standards

debate. It encourages organic consumers to take action by sending a

ready-made fax to the Organic Trade Association and the USDA's National

Organic Program demanding that organic body care standards should mirror

the standards for organic food products. In short, this would mean that:

 

 

.. Certified organic agricultural feed-stocks (raw materials) are

utilized exclusively, versus petroleum or conventional vegetable

feed-stocks, in the manufacture of the key basic cleansing and

conditioning ingredients.

.. Manufacture of such ingredients is reasonably simple and ecological.

.. The toxicity of each ingredient is minimal.

.. Non-agricultural water is not counted in any shape or form as

contributing to organic content. (Agricultural water is the naturally

occurring water in a plant and is fine.)

 

The OCA is a grassroots nonprofit organization concerned with food

safety, organic farming, sustainable agriculture, fair trade and genetic

engineering.

 

##

 

ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION . 6101 CLIFF ESTATE ROAD . LITTLE MARAIS,

MN 55614 USA

Telephone: 218-226-4164 . Fax: 218-353-7652. email:

info

 

 

 

 

 

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