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Sodium Benzoate in the Baby Wipes?!

Submitted by AnneP on Tue, Dec. 09, 2008

I was such a loyal customer, I buy everything that Seventh Generation has to offer, and trust the company. I noticed that my most recent case of baby wipes had a funny new odor, so I checked the ingredients and there it was, sodium, benzoate, a known carcinogen.
I am so disappointed. I thought I could trust Seventh Generation, but not anymore. It's too bad, it seems that they are getting too big to hold on to their conscience. The line between them and all the others are starting to blur.

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Comments (11)

camille2
Wed, Jan. 30, 2013

Regarding Bone Marrow Failure

This is for the person who said they have bone marrow failure. I found out through trial & error that Blue Spirulina made my dog who had low bone marrow, who was no longer producing EPO and red blood cells, and had kidney disease, when we gave hime the blue spirulina, his red blood cells (HCT) number increased and he no longer had anemia. Taking this made him live 4 extra years. See below how the Chinese scientists document this.

Blue Spirulina aids in building red blood cells and stem cells:

Spirulina is rich in a brilliant blue polypeptide called Phycocyanin. Studies show that Phycocyanin affects the stem cells found in bone marrow. Stem cells are "Grandmother" to both the white blood cells that make up the cellular immune system and red blood cells that oxygenate the body.
“Chinese scientists document Phycocyanin stimulating hematopoiesis, (the creation of blood), emulating the affect of the hormone erythropoetin, (EPO). EPO is produced by healthy kidneys and regulates bone marrow stem cell production of red blood cells. Chinese scientists claim Phycocyanin also regulates production of white blood cells, even when bone marrow stem cells are damaged by toxic chemicals or radiation”

danab826
Wed, May. 16, 2012

I have bone marrow failure.

I have bone marrow failure. Since the diagnosis, I have researched everything regarding bezene and it's byproducts. I also have two children of my own. I pay close attention to everything they come in contact with knowing they are more genetically susceptible to bone marrow disorders. With that said, sodium benzoate is in all most everything, and alone is not carcinogenic. It is a preservative and is safe on it's own. When sodium benzoate combines with asorbic acid, commonly known as vitamin C, it does become benzene. The levels vary but are typically low enough to pass as safe. I don't know about you, but that's not good enough for my children.

However, a common misconception is often made when consumers see both sodium benzoate and citric acid in the same list of ingredients. Citric acid is not the same as asorbic acid, and contains no vitamin C, the key to cell interaction with sodium benzoate. I'm sure this knowledge won't stop people from continuing to stick to what they believe regardless of research AND source checking, which very few do these days, but those are the facts. Seventh Generation isn't trying to give your children cancer.

Bettina
Tue, Jun. 16, 2009

I Agree w/MomE

For both my children I used cloth diapers because it was more economical. My second one was alergic to dispoables so I had no choice. The same was true of wipes. I soon learned that a second set of wash cloths (the first set was in the kitchen for hands etc.) in a tub of water and a little ivory snow did the trick. Get 6 - 8 wash cloths and a sealable tub and make your own. They can be rinsed out. Not pleasent I know but better for baby, your pocketbook, and the environment.

MomE
Wed, May. 13, 2009

Just don't use wipes

Seriously. My daughter had a 9 month long diaper rash. I'd heard about just using water, but I couldn't imagine that the wipes I was using was causing the rash. Her daycare provider asked me to bring in a roll of paper towels and they'd just wet them with water. It cleared the rash in a few days. I had forgotten how cute those little baby tushies are when they are rash free. And if you just use warm water, you've got yourself a built in wipe warmer and a much happier baby.

jasmine05
Wed, Apr. 29, 2009

Not Good Enough!

You are exactly right Kaycee hall - you are being misled by Seventh Generation and the reply above is another case of trying to smooth things over! (Google certified organic baby wipes and it will give you better choices).

Sodium benzoate is derived from petroleum (so much for all those barrels of oil you claim your products save!) and is classified as a fungicide and insecticide.

Seventh Generation (JGlasscoe) If you KNOW that the ingredients used in your wipes have "the potential for the production of benzene" "a CARCINOGEN" then WHY are you using them? Could it be because it is easy to do so and cheap? It is not quite in line with your "concerns" for protecting the health of our babies is it? Another big green lie!

JGlasscoe
Thu, Mar. 26, 2009

Sodium Benzoate, An Explanation

Preservatives are very important ingredients for maintaining product safety because they prevent bacterial and fungal growth in a product. Sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate are food grade preservatives which means that they are approved for use to preserve foods and are safe to consume. Seventh Generation uses sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate as preservatives in our baby wipes. These two substances are found in nature in cranberries, cinnamon, apples and other fruits, berries, and herbs. However, for economic reasons, sodium benzoate is typically made from petroleum, not extracted from berries.

There has been significant evidence produced by the soft drink industry that sodium benzoate in the presence of citric acid or ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) can react to form benzene, a carcinogen. Because our formula contains low levels of sodium benzoate and citric acid, we recognize the potential for the production of benzene in our baby wipes. Because one of our major concerns is protecting the health of your baby, we have conducted testing to determine if benzene is being formed in our baby wipes . The results of this testing showed us that there is no detectable benzene in our baby wipes. Therefore you can continue to use Seventh Generation Baby Wipes with confidence in their safety.

kaycee hall
Thu, Mar. 05, 2009

great i thought i was doing somthing good for my baby

my little girl has excema and i thought that this was the best choice but know i feel as though i was miss led to belive this was a more natural way to go, possibly help relive the dry effect that other wipes with chemicals had so i really didn't do anything to help.

urbanmummy
Wed, Mar. 04, 2009

good alternative

Beaming Baby wipes are biodegradable and use just organic ingredients.

AnneP
Wed, Dec. 17, 2008

Sodium Benzoate does not

Sodium Benzoate does not need ascorbic acid to be carcinogenic. Actually, if the pH is at all too low or if it's exposed to any heat, Benzene can escape.
Even if that were not true, sodium benzoate is not a necessary ingredient. It is a very disappointing one. If you are okay with it that's great, but I'm not.

THEONEWITHNONAME
Mon, Feb. 02, 2009

WELL-KNOWN CARCINOGEN

I DO URGE YOU TO RESEARCH THE FOLOWING CHEMICAL COMBIATION:

Sodium Benzoate & Citric Acid

TWO OF THE IGREDIENTS PRESENT IN THE SEVENTH GENERATIO'S CHLORINE FREE BABY WIPES...
INCLUDING POTASSIUM SORBATE.

IF I WERE YOU, I KEEP MY KID AWAY FROM THIS UNECESSARY HAZARD...

SODIUM BENZOATE + CITRIC ACID = BENZENE (commonly found in napalms, fuel additives, etc...)

Staggerlee
Tue, Dec. 16, 2008

Seriously???

Read before you leap....

"In combination with ascorbic acid (vitamin C, E300), sodium benzoate and potassium benzoate may form benzene[8], a known carcinogen. Heat, light and shelf life can affect the rate at which benzene is formed."

I do not see ASCORBIC ACID in the ingredients list.