Concerned about chemicals in Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, consumer activists are calling for a boycott of the product. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which claims to encompass 3.5 million people in 25 groups around the world, says the formaldehyde-releasing preservative quaternium and suspected carcinogen dioxane, which are found in the shampoo, could pose a danger to children. The group says some versions of the product in other countries don’t contain quaternium, and that there’s no reason those in the United States need to have the chemical.

The organization put out a press release detailing dangers of the chemicals. According to MSNBC, Johnson & Johnson said in a statement that it’s phasing out quaternium and not introducing it in new products, and it has reduced dioxane to below detectable levels.

A leader of the activist group called Johnson & Johnson’s moves “a big step in the right direction” but stopped short of calling off the boycott in the release.

Activists call for boycott of Johnson & Johnson over chemicals in baby shampoo [MSNBC]

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