J&J pledges to phase out harmful chemicals from all its products

Consumer and bay care products manufacturer Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has pledged to phase out harmful chemicals from all of its products by 2013.

J&J, maker of well-known brands such as Johnson’s Baby Oil and Neutrogena, said it will be removing carcinogens and other toxic chemicals from its baby and adult toiletries in the 57 countries in which it operates.

The move follows pressure faced by J&J for years from green and consumer groups, who claimed the company was using potentially harmful ingredients, such as the preservative formaldehyde, which is released slowly by a chemical called quaternium-15 to kill bacteria, which can also cause skin, eye, and respiratory irritation.

J&J said in first phase of grouping out of chemicals it will remove 1,4 dioxane and phthalates, which reportedly contain carcinogens, out of all baby products by 2013 and all adult products by 2015.

J&J vice president for product stewardship and toxicology Susan Nettesheim was quoted babycenter.com as telling New York Times that even though as a scientist she would tell you these things are perfectly safe.

The company said since 2010, it has reduced the number of products containing chemicals that release formaldehyde by 33% and the products that contain 1,4 dioxane by 74%.

In 2005, the company had also launched the Johnson’s Soothing Naturals line, products with no 1,4 dioxane and or formaldehyde-releasing chemicals, that developed into Johnson’s Natural baby products.