Always thought presence of harmful chemicals in food and cosmetics was a hoax.

Why would respectable companies and brands resort to such a thing? After all it takes them years of R&D to design the right product mix and then spend big PR and marketing dollars  to build up the trust, good will and loyalty of their customers. Will anyone undergo so much trouble just to told one fine day that their product was and is harmful to their loyal customer base?

This exactly seems to be the case, when i read this article in the Times of India regarding High Lead content in Lipsticks

In a nutshell it talks about a study conducted by Consumer Education and Research Society (CERS), Ahmadabad, according to which:

  • Many popular lipstick brands have a high lead content.
  • The lesser priced lipsticks had less lead than the more expensive and well known brands.
  • Red lipsticks had less lead then the sober brown shades of lipstick

This information gains significant because:

  • Lead exposure is really bad for humans.
  • It is a neurotoxin which can cause learning, language and behavioral problems.
  • Exposure to lead can cause develops infertility and miscarriage.
  • Pregnant women and young children are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure

Every day seems  a new revelation, where the print and electronic media enlightens us about unheard of applications of chemistry – from using calcium carbide to artificially ripen mangoes to treating green vegetables with malachite green and coating them with wax to make them look more lustrous.

In the matter of Lead in lipstick, the question is:

Do we believe the media or the cosmetic company?

If the study is true, did we know about it before the media expose?

Now that we know about it, Can we avoid such products?

Is it confined only to lipstick or does it cover other products as well?

Is there a simple method to detect the toxins / adulterations in seemingly harmless every day products?

If we can’t avoid such products is there any alternative method to negate the adverse effects of toxic chemicals / adulterations in them?

Finally, who do the consumer approach to for remedy in case they are a victim to such deceit?

Are any such cases taken up by the government / court of law? What was the verdict?

Have there been similar occurrences  in other countries? What was the outcome?

In subsequent articles we will explore the solutions if any to the problems we face in our everyday life from such  unexpected sources.