26 Firms To Stop Selling Products With Cancer-Causing Chemical
A California health advocacy group has reached settlements with 26 companies to reduce the use of a cancer-causing chemical in cosmetic products, KPCC's "KPCC News" reports (O'Neill, "KPCC News," KPCC, 5/5).
Background
In August 2013, the Oakland-based Center for Environmental Health filed lawsuits against more than 100 companies for not disclosing that their products contained cocamide diethanolamine, or cocamide DEA. Warning labels about the chemical are required under the state's Proposition 65 because the state in June 2012 identified cocamide DEA as a cancer-causing substance (CEH release, 5/5).
The chemical is used in lotion, shampoo, soap and other cosmetic products, according to "KPCC News."
Details of Settlements
Twenty-six companies have reached a settlement with CEH, including:
- Colgate-Palmolive, which said it will exclude cocamide DEA from its products; and
- Walgreen, which agreed to stop selling cosmetics that contain cocamide DEA.
Of the settlements, 14 were confirmed Friday in Alameda Superior Court and 12 will be finalized in June.
CEH said it plans to continue litigation efforts against the other companies involved in its lawsuits that did not reach settlement agreements ("KPCC News," KPCC, 5/5).
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