Is It Organic?

Recently the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) filed a class action lawsuit in California against 26 cosmetics companies that they say have made “dozens of products that are labeled on the front as “organic” yet contain few or, in some cases, no organic ingredients, based on the ingredient lists on the items. Items included products made by major national companies, including Hain-Celestial (one of the largest US organic companies), Alliance Boots (a leading UK cosmetics maker), Kiss My Face, and other major brands.”

There are a ton of products out on the market today that claim to be “organic” and many of them are professional products carried in salons and spas, but after reading the press release regarding the lawsuit it makes me wonder just how many of the products on our shelves actually are organic.

California law states that in order to label a product as “organic” they must contain a minimum of 70% organic ingredients.

According to the ingredients lists of the products in the lawsuit not only do none have the 70% minimum some of them have no “organic” ingredients at all. Here is the list from the CEH press release:

Advantage Research Laboratories, Inc./Murray’s Worldwide, Inc.: Parnevu T-Tree No Lye Conditioning Relaxer System

Aubrey Organics, Inc: Collagen & Almond Enriching Moisturizing Lotion

Beauty Without Cruelty/Lotus Brands, Inc: Organic Aromatherapy Facial Cleanser

Boots Retail USA Inc: Boots Amazon Forest Brazil Nut & Vanilla Body Wash

California Inside & Out, Inc: Out of Africa Handwash Tea Tree with Essential Oil

Colomer U.S.A.: Crème of Nature Kiwi & Citrus Ultra Moisturizing Shampoo

Cosway Company, Inc/Head Organics Company: Clearly Head Conditioner

Curls, LLC: Curlicious Curls Cleansing Cream Organic Shampoo

derma e® Natural Bodycare/Stearns Products, Inc: Psorzema Body Wash

Hain Celestial Group: Jason Thin-to-Thick Conditioner and Baby Avalon Organics Silky Cornstarch Baby Powder

House of Cheatham, Inc: Organics by Africa’s Best Hair Mayonnaise

International Trade Routes of New York, Inc/Laboratorios Phergal: Naturtint Green Technologies Permanent Hair Colorant

Kinky-Curly Hair Care: Kinky-Curly Spiral Spritz

Kiss My Face Corporation: Hold Up Styling Mousse

Lafe’s Natural BodyCare/Lafe T. Larson, Inc: Deodorant Stone With Holder

Morrocco Method, Inc: Euro Organic Oil Simply Pure Hair & Scalp Therapy

Namasté Laboratories: Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Replenishing Pak

Nature’s Baby Products, Inc: Nature’s Baby ORGANICS Shampoo & Body Wash in Vanilla-Tangerine Scent or Lavender-Chamomile Scent

Nubian Heritage Group/Sundial Group LLC: Coconut & Papaya with Vanilla Bean Extract Body Wash

Nutrition Resource, Inc. dba NutriBiotic: NutriBiotic Everyday Clean Conditioner Botanical Blend

Rainbow Research Corporation: Rainbow Baby Oh Baby Unscented Organic Herbal Shampoo

Renpure, L.L.C: Renpure Organics I Love My Hair! Body and Shine Shampoo

Strength of Nature Global, LLC: Elasta QP Intense Fortifying Hair Conditioning Treatment

Sundial Brands/Sundial Group LLC: Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo

The Himalaya Drug Company: Organique by Himalaya Toothpaste

Todd Christopher International, Inc/Vogue International: Hydrating Teatree Mint Conditioner