Cancer fears over Johnson & Johnson baby products

A major supermarket chain in China has removed Johnson & Johnson baby products from its shelves following allegations that the products could cause cancer.

Sales of J&J baby shampoo, soap and lotion have been halted at 3,500 outlets of Nonggongshan Supermarkets Corp.

“We have to be responsible to consumers and suspend sales of these products until they are proved safe,” said Gan Pingzhong, quality supervision manager at the supermarket.

Concern was raised when US non-profit Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC) last month reported it had found that “dozens of top-selling children’s bath products are contaminated with the cancer-causing chemicals formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane.”

Formaldehyde is a liquid chemical used in building materials such as plywood, and to preserve dead bodies in medical laboratories.

The US Environmental Agency classifies formaldehyde as a ‘probable human carinogen’.

The Personal Care Products Council in the US refuted the CSC’s allegations and said that the products in question meet established safety standards.