California Files Lawsuit Against Avalon, Whole Foods Brand

The Great State of California (i.e., the Attorney General) has filed a major lawsuit against body care household-cleaning product companies whose products recently tested highest for the carcinogenic contaminant 1,4-Dioxane, according to the Organic Consumers Association, a "watchdog" organization that released a report in March about the issue.

Their main target? Avalon Natural Products. However, it includes other companies that "have sold products (e.g., body washes, gels, liquid dish soaps) that tested close to or in excess of 20 parts per million for 1,4-Dioxane in the OCA study," which were:

• Whole Foods Market California (365 brand)
• Beaumont Products (Citrus Magic)
• Nutribiotic (See all products tested in the study.)
  

What does this mean for the consumer? Not much - not right now. The complaint is not that this chemical was in the products, but that they were not labeled as products that "may cause cancer."

The lesson here? California is definitely leading the movement towards correct labeling and regulation of personal care and home products...but in the meantime, know your ingredients and READ LABELS. Here's what to look out for (from the OCA press release):

To avoid 1,4-Dioxane, the OCA urges consumers to search ingredient lists for indications of ethoxylation including: "myreth," "oleth," "laureth," "ceteareth," any other "eth," "PEG," "polyethylene," "polyethylene glycol," "polyoxyethylene," or "oxynol," in ingredient names.

McD's Pledges Allegiance to the Green Movement?

Much of the world is going green! We've mentioned here that cosmetics and skincare are becoming more aware of the advantages of organic products. Now let us mention that McDonald's has attempted to do their part as well.

They may not have claimed to be going organic, but they are attemping to be just a little more eco-friendly. McDonald's pledged to recycle/re-use the cooking oil in its restraunts. The cooking oil is used as an environmentally-safe biodiesel. This was breaking-news back in the summer of 2007!

But does this make up for past "travesties"? It was only a year and a half ago that McDonald's teamed up with Hummer to put mini-gas-guzzlers in their Happy Meals. Advertising Hummers to children? Maybe not unethical per say, but certainly not paving a green brick road to the future.

Whatever it is, it's definitely worth looking into. Maybe this should be one of the issues -- not that we don't have enough -- on the political battlefield. How do candidate's feel on cracking down on greenwashing? Who will be responsible for corporate responsibility?