Yesterday, August 14, 2012, news broke about the withdrawal of 11 products from the supermarket chain Mercadona. These products have been pulled from shelves because they contain two components that, when combined, could form a carcinogenic substance.
The news might have ended there if it weren’t for a certain panic that has erupted, largely fueled by alarmist treatment on social media and less rigorous blogs. Misinformation, combined with the fear the word “cancer” provokes, is causing people to throw away purchased products, rush to get their money back, or, worse, worry about whether they were at risk from using these products.
Why were they withdrawn?
The problem was the simultaneous use of two components, triethanolamine and bronopol. Under certain circumstances, these substances can combine to produce nitrosamine, a substance that can induce tumors.
Triethanolamine is a chemical product commonly used in cosmetic preparations and cleaning products to control pH. It is common in skin lotions, moisturizers, shampoo gels, shaving foams, etc.
Bronopol, on the other hand, is a highly effective antimicrobial substance, so its use as a preservative agent in products is common.
What is nitrosamine?
Nitrosamines are organic compounds present in most rubber compounds, pesticides, and certain cosmetics.
They have been proven to be strongly carcinogenic substances in a wide variety of animal experiments, so they are considered carcinogenic for humans as well. They have been shown to be involved in the appearance of malignant tumors in the liver, kidney, pancreas, bladder, tongue, esophagus, lung, and stomach.
Nitrosamines are produced from reactions between nitrites and secondary amines (sometimes present as proteins) under strongly acidic conditions, such as the gastric environment. They can also be produced at relatively high temperatures, such as those caused by frying.
The main source of exposure is food. Proteins are a source of amines, and nitrates are used as preservatives in cured meats or are even found in some vegetables.
Dangerous nitrosamines can also be ingested already synthesized during the food processing or preservation process. This is the case with smoked foods, barbecues, hot ham and cheese preparations, beer, and fish that has been frozen for a long time.
Finally, tobacco smoke or the use of certain pesticides are also sources of nitrosamines.
Is there a health risk?
It must be made clear that there is no health risk for anyone who has used these products. The Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) has also confirmed this, issuing a statement declaring that the safety of these cosmetics “is within reasonable limits.” Hence, it decided not to issue any health alert on the matter. The withdrawal is preventive in nature and is due to a discrepancy in the interpretation of regulations.
- The products did not contain nitrosamines, but triethanolamine and bronopol.
- The components were not at concentrations sufficient to form nitrosamines.
- The conditions for nitrosamine formation are high pH (in the stomach) or high temperatures (cooking process).
- Nitrosamines cannot penetrate the skin; they must be ingested to pose a risk.
- Nitrosamines are primarily a problem associated with food, especially cured meats, cheeses, smoked foods, and even beer.
Therefore, it is completely safe to have used the withdrawn creams (unless you decide to fry and eat them). It is logical for regulations and regulatory authorities to instruct manufacturers to control the simultaneous use of both substances. The products will simply be replaced by a similar chemical formula, probably by substituting bronopol or adding nitrosamine formation inhibitors.
List of withdrawn products
Below is the list of the 11 withdrawn products. At the end of the post, you have photos of each item.
- Deliplus - Aloe body moisturizer.
- Deliplus - Luminosity effect body moisturizer.
- Deliplus - Firming body moisturizer.
- Deliplus - Body moisturizer for atopic skin.
- Deliplus - Anti-dryness foot moisturizer.
- Deliplus - Olive oil nourishing body lotion.
- Deliplus - Almond nourishing body lotion.
- Deliplus - Nourishing hand cream.
- Solcare - Hydrating after-sun lotion.
- Solcare - Luminosity after-sun lotion.
- Solcare - Aloe vera after-sun gel.
Personally, I plan to keep using the ones I have at home until they run out. However, the Mercadona chain has announced that it will replace the products with the new ones free of charge. And you? What will you do? Did you like the article? Do you have any questions? Do you want to give us your opinion on the topic? If so, feel free to leave a comment.
