Brazilian Blowout?
In response to the recent article on the Brazilian Blowout hair treatment containing formaldehyde, I ask why is there no mandatory third-party testing on all consumer products entering the country?
Some may argue that the cost far outweighs the benefit, but can one really place a value on health? The chemistry behind these tests is already well documented and obviously quite feasible.
How else would Health Canada be able to determine whether or not to issue an advisory or recall?
I won't lie. I'm not familiar with the specifics of the testing done on this Brazilian Blowout, but I do see the company's "scientist's" claim that "formaldehyde... cannot possibly exist in the product, especially given that formaldehyde is a gas" to be complete nonsense.
This so-called expert calls into question the testing methods indicating that they are showing high levels of "methylene glycol" rather than formaldehyde.
Guess what? Methylene glycol is formalin, or the form formaldehyde takes when dissolved in water.
As far as Health Canada regulations go, methylene glycol is formaldehyde, and this product is clearly over the allowable limit. We cannot rely on these corporations to police themselves any longer.
Over the past few years there have been similar incidents with other products containing inferior, mislabeled, or even potentially hazardous ingredients.
Remember the seemingly never-ending recalls on various infant formulas, children's toys, drinking glasses, and a large variety of health treatments?
How long will it be until someone you know becomes seriously ill or permanently disabled?
We've been gambling with the "wait and see" approach for quite some time, but eventually our luck will run out.
Enough is enough. Action is needed before this carelessness causes us loss. We need to petition our local MP and demand more safeguards.
Aaron Hedch
Prince George
