Transparency in product ingredients is crucial for consumers to make informed decisions, especially when it comes to products for babies. While disclosure can sometimes involve balancing risks and costs, the benefits of transparency often outweigh these concerns. It allows parents to make safer and better-informed choices for their children. Unfortunately, baby wipes are among the products that lack adequate ingredient disclosure.
Call for FDA Action: 2 Things the FDA Allows Brands to Conceal
Hidden Components in Baby Wipes
Terms like "(plant) extract" or "(plant) water" are often used on product labels, but these terms can be misleading. They may mask the presence of undisclosed preservatives or solvents that go beyond the plant-based components consumers expect. This lack of clarity raises concerns about the true nature of these ingredients. For a more in-depth exploration of this issue, refer to our detailed blog post at Are Extracts in Cosmetics as Natural as They Seem?
Furthermore, many baby wipes contain microplastics in their fabric composition, a detail that is frequently omitted from product labels. Since brands are not required to disclose fabric composition, they often make broad claims like "naturally derived" or "natural fabric," which can be misleading for consumers. For example, most viscose-based baby wipe materials include plastics because viscose, which is derived from wood chips, doesn't stretch well enough on its own. For a more detailed discussion on this topic, check out our blog post at 3 Key Facts About Baby Wipe Materials: Cotton vs. Viscose Explained.
FDA's Role and Regulatory Gaps
According to FDA labeling guidelines, components of an ingredient that are deemed to have no significant technical or functional role in the final product do not need to be disclosed. However, there are no standardized methods or criteria provided by the FDA to determine what qualifies as "insignificant." This lack of clear standards leaves room for inconsistent interpretations, creating potential gaps in transparency and leaving consumers unaware of the full composition of products they use on their infants. These vague standards create a lack of transparency that undermines consumers’ right to know, potntially putting infant health at risk.
Take Action: Support Ingredient Transparency
The history of cosmetics regulation shows that transparency is achievable. There was a time when companies weren’t required to disclose any ingredient information, but consumer advocacy led to improved standards. By supporting increased ingredient transparency for baby products, we can empower parents to make safer choices.
Join our cause by signing the petition at https://chng.it/pKG46tvfBK. Your voice matters. With collective effort, we can push for changes that will encourage both companies and the FDA to prioritize full disclosure of ingredients. Let’s work together to ensure a safer future for our children.
A Safer Alternative for Your Baby
For parents seeking the safest option, consider using only water to clean your baby. When on the go, our individually wrapped baby wipes provide a trustworthy solution. Made with 100% pharmaceutical-grade water and 100% cotton, our wipes are free from unnecessary chemicals and plastics. Choose transparency and safety for your baby.
