The Ingredient That's Never on the Label: 1,4-Dioxane
1,4-dioxane never appears on a label. Here are the clues that do.
Transcript
There's an ingredient in some products that's never on the label. It's 1,4-dioxane, a byproduct of making PEGs and similar ingredients. Clues on the label: PEG, polysorbate, ceteareth, and names ending in eth. It's classified as a possible carcinogen, and New York now limits it. Our Beauty Bar is made without PEGs. Now you know the clues.
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PEG Compounds and 1,4-Dioxane Contamination
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Key points from the full guide
- PEGs and other ethoxylated ingredients are made using ethylene oxide, a process that can leave behind traces of 1,4-dioxane.
- 1,4-dioxane is classified as possibly carcinogenic by IARC and likely carcinogenic by the US EPA.
- It is a contaminant, so it never appears on ingredient lists; New York now limits how much products may contain.
- Clues on the label include PEG, polysorbate, ceteareth, laureth, and other names ending in -eth.
Read the full guide: PEG Compounds and 1,4-Dioxane Contamination