"Markey Asks FDA To Investigate Hair Straightening Products"

"Representative Edward Markey and some of his congressional colleagues are imploring the US Food and Drug Administration to investigate hair straightening treatments, such as the popular Brazilian Blowout, that contain formaldehyde, a carcinogen. ..."



"Markey and his colleagues first contacted the FDA in May 2011, requesting the agency to initiate a voluntary recall of the products and institute better labeling practices and warnings. They also asked the agency to conduct a review of whether formaldehyde should be banned given associated health risks.

The FDA warned the makers of Brazilian Blowout that the agency considered the Brazilian Blowout Acai Professional Smoothing Solution to be misbranded because the product label falsely promoted the solution to be formaldehyde-free. Despite the August 2011 warning, the company has not reformulated its product to reduce or eliminate the levels of formaldehyde, the letter said.

Instead, the company sent letters to salons reaffirming the safety of its product and launched a new product, Zero+ Solution, which it claims does not release formaldehyde. To date, the FDA has not publicly taken any additional enforcement action against the company or substantiated its statement regarding its original Brazilian Blowout solution or its new product."

Tracy Jan reports for the Boston Globe December 11, 2012.
 

Source: Boston Globe, 12/12/2012