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Everything seems to be made in China but can we trust these products!

(101 Posts)
ninny Wed 05-Feb-14 14:56:18

Trying to use natural products so looking closely at labels and packaging, but have come to the conclusion nearly everything is made in China or elsewhere. In my bathroom at the moment hand and body lotion from Marks and Spencer - made in China. Baylis and Harding bubble bath and hand cream - made in China. Cussons talcum powder - made in Thailand. This has made me question the purity of the ingredients and feeling that I do not want to use these products.

Ana Wed 05-Feb-14 15:00:08

Not quite sure I understand what you mean by 'the purity of the ingredients', ninny.

Riverwalk Wed 05-Feb-14 15:01:47

None of the products that you mention are 'natural' confused so I don't suppose it matters where they are made.

margaretm74 Wed 05-Feb-14 15:27:37

I went to buy some Huggies wetwipes yesterday, labelled 'PURE" on the packaging, a whole list of contents including a paraben.

Since the melamine jn the baby milk scandal DH thinks they will be more careful - didn't they execute the culprits? Johnsons baby products are made in China, child health experts were seeing more skin reactions. Toothpaste, cosmetics, toiletries etc, not many produced in this country.

I was given Baylis and Harding products, supposed to be 'ethical', so I was surprised to read they were made in China; I emailed them but never heard back.

nightowl Wed 05-Feb-14 15:51:12

Anything made in China is tested on animals as well. Anything not made in China but sold in China is tested on animals there too.

nightowl Wed 05-Feb-14 15:53:03

I would never buy johnsons baby products as johnsons is one of the worst offenders when it comes to animal testing. Ironic that their products are causing increased skin reactions despite animal testing.

Aka Wed 05-Feb-14 16:08:43

Oh dear. I didn't know that nightowl will have to take more care in future. Just off to look at a Johnson's product to see what it says on the label.

Aka Wed 05-Feb-14 16:15:02

Just looked on Johnson's Baby Powder, nothing about bring produced in China. Their Baby Shampoo and conditioner says made in Italy confused

margaretm74 Wed 05-Feb-14 16:20:20

Oh! Do you think they have changed because of bad publicity?

Ana Wed 05-Feb-14 16:28:56

I thought Johnson's baby powder was made in India.

Ana Wed 05-Feb-14 16:30:08

Although that doesn't mean their products aren't tested on animals, as nightowl says.

Aka Wed 05-Feb-14 16:43:08

I think they read your post M74.

Agree it doesn't mean they don't test on animals but how do we know what s safe / morally ok to use? I do need to know as I feel very strongly about this.

nightowl Wed 05-Feb-14 16:49:46

It is a minefield Aka because even brands that have been cruelty free for years are now selling in china which means they have to agree that their products will be tested there. It's really difficult to keep up with which brands are truly cruelty free any longer, and fewer and fewer are. This is in spite of the recent EU legislation which banned animal testing of cosmetics. It drives me crazy because however hard you try to avoid products tested on animals it seems to be almost impossible. My daughter has been unable to find any makeup that us not tested (apart from beauty without cruelty which has a very limited range) and perfume is a minefield. It makes me sad and angry

nightowl Wed 05-Feb-14 16:52:30

I find this a useful guide Aka

nottested.co.uk/Toiletries.html

margaretm74 Wed 05-Feb-14 16:53:20

I don' t know it was DD1 who would never use Johnsons products on DGS, only organic no parabens (she has alerted me to that) and not tested on animals

omg the wind is frightening! I am in the conservatory

Aka Wed 05-Feb-14 17:07:19

Thanks for that nightowl very useful guide smile

HildaW Wed 05-Feb-14 18:33:47

Interesting article about peanut allergies - new research into desensitizing people who suffer from it was in news. The article I read also went onto state that a lot of baby products used peanut oil and this affected the baby/toddler's skin ph which let to problems with its ability to ward of infection and perhaps lead allergies. Its not called peanut oil though on the labels...other names are used (sneaky) one is arachis oil.

ninny Wed 05-Feb-14 20:19:54

Ana and Riverwalk I know that these products are not natural, they were all given to me at Christmas and when I happened to look yesterday where they were made ie China and the list of ingredients (chemicals) I have thrown them in the bin (I had been using them). The talc I bought yesterday, I never looked at the label until I got home and I don't think I will be using this either and was surprised this had a list of ingredients (chemicals) besides talc and perfume and was made in Thailand because it was an old brand I knew.

My daughter bought me for Christmas Dr Organic Night and Day Cream (Argan Oil) with all natural ingredients and not tested on animals and I love them.

I will make a point of looking at labels and ingredients on everything in future and I don't want to buy anything from China because I feel personally that they cannot be trusted.

thatbags Wed 05-Feb-14 20:26:35

Talcum powder is a natural substance. Perfumes added to the natural mineral may not be.

Soutra Wed 05-Feb-14 20:27:26

Products do have chemicals just as food has e numbers but they are not necessarily "suspect". And I think it is a gross oversimpification to demonise anything made in China as if everything made in the UK is by definition kosher.

Elegran Wed 05-Feb-14 21:23:45

Most drinks have a lot of hydrogen hydroxide in them - a chemical. It hasn't poisoned anyone (but you can overdose)

Soutra Wed 05-Feb-14 22:31:22

I have just looked at a bottle of Baylis & Harding handwash I have in the downstairs loo - union jack on the side and "Made in the UK". It was cheap as chips and I suppose if I wanted "organic" I would just have to be prepared to spend 5x as much. You usually get what you pay for.

Ana Wed 05-Feb-14 22:34:09

But where was the bottle made?

Soutra Wed 05-Feb-14 22:40:02

grin

Aka Wed 05-Feb-14 22:55:39

Elegran grin I think you'll also find that many have over 98% oxygen dihydride too.