An analysis by DailyMail.com has found that some of America’s favorite Christmas stocking stuffers contain harmful ingredients banned in the UK.
European and UK laws governing the permitted ingredients in products and food are stricter and ban several toxic additives linked to cancer and infertility.
DailyMail.com picked five popular gifts that millions of Americans will be opening this year and analyzed the ingredients of the same products (or similar equivalents) that Brits might be unwrapping on December 25.
lipstick
Lip gloss is a relatively inexpensive cosmetic product that can be added to any trend-conscious beauty lover’s stocking. It gives the finishing touch to a made up face. However, the aspiring cover girl should be on the lookout for a dangerous ingredient she may be unknowingly putting on her lips: titanium dioxide.
Some American lip glosses contain a harmful ingredient not found in British products: titanium dioxide
A lip gloss product available from a popular cosmetics store in the US is said to contain titanium dioxide, but it is not on the ingredient list of the same product sold in the UK.
The use of the ingredient in food is banned in the EU and the UK – but it is still allowed in US food – and use in cosmetic products is allowed.
Titanium dioxide is a fine white powder or substance used in paper, ceramics, paint, ink and cosmetics. It is also found in candies such as Skittles and Starbursts.
Despite its ubiquitous use, the International Agency for Cancer classifies titanium dioxide as a carcinogen because studies in animals have shown that the inhalation of titanium dioxide leads to an increased incidence of lung cancer.
Perfume
Anyone with style will say that no outfit is complete without a few spritzes of her signature scent. However, wearers should be careful: Diffusing your favorite fragrance can expose you to Lilial, also called butylphenylmethylpropional.
Popular perfumes in the United States may contain lilial, a compound linked to endocrine disruption, allergies, and skin irritation
Lilial is a chemical compound used as a perfume in cosmetics and laundry products.
A luxury perfume available from a global cosmetics supplier lists the ingredient in the US product, but it is noticeably missing from the UK version.
The substance has been linked to organ toxicity, endocrine disruption, allergies and skin irritation.
The European Commission of the European Union has classified Lilial as a reproductive toxicant, a chemical that has a negative impact on fertility and fetal development and can harm the fetus during pregnancy.
The committee said that Lilial “cannot be considered safe.”
Although the substance is found in perfumes in the US, Lilial is not approved for use in the UK.
Browning mist
If you’re taking advantage of the vacation to vacation on a tropical island and don’t want to look scary, you can use popular tanning products to get a pre-break tan.
When you spray on a fake tan, you can come into contact with propylparaben, a substance from the parabane family
While you’re spraying on that fake sun-kissed glow, you (and others) may be coming into contact with propylparaben.
Propylparaben is a substance from the paraben family. It is used as a preservative in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
Companies use parabens in degradable products to prevent and reduce the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi, thereby extending the life of a product.
However, the chemicals can mimic the female hormone estrogen, which can disrupt the body’s natural biological processes.
Studies have shown that repeated exposure to parabens can negatively affect the endocrine processes associated with breast cancer.
Parabens are banned in the UK and EU, but are still allowed to be used in products in the US.
Holiday sweets
For those who would rather eat their presents than wear them, there are plenty of Christmas treats to fill your Christmas stockings. A fun variation popular with children is the traditional bag of reindeer dolls.
Santa’s favorite Christmas pacifier contains Red 40, a harmful food additive
Although “Santa’s Favorite Pacifier” is fun to eat, the little bites of pink cotton candy contain several artificial colors that have been linked to several serious health problems.
Red 40 is listed as one of the candy’s ingredients.
While the additive can make the candy eye-catching and tasty, it can also be harmful to your health.
A recent study in mice linked Red 40 to immune disorders and inflammatory bowel disease and found it to be contaminated with benzidine and other carcinogens.
In addition, the food coloring is associated with hypersensitivity reactions. Studies show that the use of artificial food dyes leads to a statistically significant increase in ADHD symptoms in children.
The food additive is banned in the EU and UK, but remains permitted in the US.
Christmas marshmallows
Another little gift for those with a sweet tooth: the classic Christmas beep.
These classic marshmallows come in all shapes, sizes, themes and colors for just about every holiday and contain Yellow 5 food coloring.
These classic marshmallows contain the yellow 5 food dye, which can cause ADHD symptoms in children
Yellow 5, like Red 40, was found to be contaminated with benzidine and other carcinogens. It has also been linked to ADHD symptoms in children.
Research has shown that exposure to Yellow 5 damages people’s white blood cells and is linked to asthma symptoms and skin irritation.
The food additive is banned in the EU and UK, but remains permitted in the US.
In October, Pennsylvania-based Peeps maker Just Born became the first company to announce changes to its ingredients list after California passed a law banning several potentially carcinogenic ingredients, including a food dye.
Just Born has announced that it will no longer use Red 3 in its products. However, the company did not provide any information about other dyes, including Yellow 5, used in its treats.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
