There is a long list of highly dangerous detergents reported and still on sale on the market. In some cases these are cleaning products that contain corrosive substances used without any warning to consumers.
The necessary reports have been implemented but in practice, after many months, no recall has been made and this means that products containing potentially dangerous chemicals circulate on the market that consumers continue to use.
Let’s see in detail: in 2021 the cantonal laboratory of Basel in Switzerlandanalyzing about 50 products including detergents and cleaning detergents, he reported 18 of these as potentially dangerous for health and the environment but despite this, some are still for sale. The K-Tipp magazine is a Swiss magazine that has always been involved in studying the quality of products placed on the markets and used by consumers, from food to personal hygiene products to household cleaning products.
What harmful substances do these detergents contain
In some cases, these products contain corrosive substances and one of the main problems is the marketing without the necessary warnings for users. The alarm was raised by the K-Tipp magazine which received the list of dangerous products from the cantonal laboratory of Basel on the basis of the law on public information. The magazine denounces that manufacturers minimize the risks on the use of chemicals contained in products without giving consumers notice. Of the 50 detergents examined, only 2 met all legal requirements.
The offending products
Cif crème citrus is one of the indicted products, (Swiss version), which despite reports is still on sale in Switzerland and continues to be purchased. This product is sold in the same highly criticized colorful comic pack. Same thing for the product “Wilderness Wash”Which today is still on the shelves without the legal indications it should contain.
Below are the products reported by K-Tipp divided according to the risks:
Dishwashing detergents irritating to the eyes
Coop (Switzerland) “Oecoplan Camomille”;
- “Biobaula Öko” (negozi bio);
- “Sodasan Lemon Freshness” (organic shops);
- “Sea to Summit Wilderness Wash” and “Laundry Wash” (Swiss markets and stalls).
Dangerous detergents for children because with packaging that makes them look like toys
- for “Fox” dishwashers sold in Coop (Switzerland) in limited edition “Aquatic” (package with a drawing of a clown fish and coral);
- “Fox” variant “Raspberry” with pink fruit design;
- “Cif Crème Citrus” by Unilever (edition “Switzerland disguises itself”) with images of two cartoon children.
- We then find products for special cleaning:
- for swimming pools “Reva-Sol Acide” containing the Forbidden surfactant octylphenol ethoxylate: once in the water, even in minimal quantities, it can damage the aquatic environment
- “WM 33” to clean mops and “Carela Gips-Ex”, detergent for dissolving gypsum deposits containing an excessive amount of EDTA, not readily biodegradable. It can cause the accumulation of heavy metals in water.
Certainly cleaning products help us, but are we sure that everyone is needed? Several consumer associations recommend a multipurpose detergent as the only product to limit environmental risks, to the person and to the space in the closets.