Less Cancer recently called on the FDA to prioritize a program to require the chemicals in cosmetics to be registered.
This call to action is in response to the ever-increasing rates young women are using cosmetics, at younger ages, as a result of social media messaging that encourages women to strive for an idealized appearance. Less Cancer is concerned since cosmetics can contain many chemicals, many of which are virtually untested for safety.
Mindi Messmer, the Government Relations Consultant for Less Cancer said:
“We call on FDA to take swift action because consumers have a right to know about the presence of PFAS and other chemicals in products. Consumers, especially young women of childbearing age, need to be empowered with the tools necessary to make informed decisions about the products they buy so they can minimize their exposure to these dangerous cancer-causing chemicals.”
Until this year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had a program that asked cosmetics companies to voluntarily register the chemicals in their products. However, the program ended in February of 2023 and in November and without prior notice, the FDA delayed implementing a new program until July of 2024.
“While we would prefer that companies be required to put all chemical ingredients on product labels, even a voluntary program is better than nothing,” said Messmer.
In the last few weeks, a new study found per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in several cosmetic products, including waterproof mascara. Another recent study found 27 PFAS chemicals in cosmetic products sold in China.
Since products are applied to the eye area, it is easy for the chemicals to get in your body. PFAS chemicals are commonly called “forever chemicals” because once they are in your body, they stay there for decades, and there is no treatment to remove them. PFAS chemicals are in a wide array of consumer products and are linked to certain cancers, and serious health conditions in unborn babies, young children, and adults.
Founded in 2004, the Next Generation Choices Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity known more widely as “Less Cancer.” The organization works to educate the public, create proactive public policies, and offer continuing education credit to physicians, nurses, and public health professionals regarding cancer, over 50% of which are preventable.
Our first and most important benchmark is our name: Less Cancer signifies a new paradigm for addressing cancer, one focused on prevention. This is a departure from previous treatment-focused approaches, which focus on beating, conquering, or curing cancer.
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