Bawang Shampoos Pose Cancer Risk: Hk Magazine

[rickytan]

15th China Global Times reports (http://china.globaltimes.cn/society/2010-07/551764.html)

A series of Chinese made shampoos endorsed in TV commercials by kung fu movie star Jackie Chan reportedly contain a cancer-causing chemical, according to a Hong Kong-based magazine.

The manufacturer, however, strongly denied the herb-infused products pose any danger to users.

Next Magazine said Wednesday that the Bawang Chinese Herbal Essence Shampoo Series, Bawang Hair Darkening Shampoo, and Royal Wind Shampoo produced by B&W International Group contained dioxane.

However, the magazine did not say how much chemical was found in the products during testing. In the ads, Chan said he initially turned down the chance to endorse the shampoo but changed his mind after washing his full head of hair with it. He also said he was pleased the shampoos use herbs instead of chemicals.

An unidentified employee at B&W told the Global Times that they use small quantities of dioxane in their shampoo products, and claimed it is not harmful to people.

Dioxane is irritating to the eyes and the respiratory tract, and is suspected of causing damage to the central nervous system, the liver and the kidneys.

The chemical is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a carcinogen, and is classified in California as a cause of cancer.

B&W issued a statement Wednesday, saying the magazine exaggerated the problem and accused it of inaccurate reporting.

The company said their products are manufactured in accordance with the laws of China, and have met the safety requirements of both Hong Kong and the mainland.

It added their products are in compliance with US and European Union standards.

The company warned that it reserves the right to take legal action against the magazine over the article.

"The concentration of dioxane in the products is far below the safety limit, and the products will not cause impact to human health," the statement said.

The company suspended trading in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Wednesday. Its share price dropped by 14.116 percent to $5.05.

Jackie Chan, the recognizable spokesman for Bawang Chinese Herbal Essence Shampoo Series, did not comment on the report.

However, workers at his Hong Kong agency said they trusted the quality of the shampoos, ifeng.com reported Wednesday.

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15th July 香港杂志《壹周刊》 reports:

昨天，一则“霸王洗发水致癌”的消息将日化巨头霸王集团推上了风口浪尖。受此影响，霸王集团H股大跌14.12%，市值蒸发24.5亿港元。昨天下午，霸王集团紧急宣布临时停牌，随后发表澄清声明，产品所含的微量二恶烷并非刻意添加，而是由原材料残留引起的，绝对不会对人体健康构成影响。霸王集团相关负责人对北京晨报记者表示，霸王集团已将样品送交第三方检验机构进行检验，检验结果将于今日公布。

染毒 港媒称霸王洗发水致癌

昨天，最新出版的一期香港杂志《壹周刊》爆出霸王洗发水致癌的消息。这个长达四页的报道称，经过香港公证所化验后，霸王洗发水含有被美国列为致癌物质(Carcinogens)的二恶烷(Dioxane)，含有二恶烷的品种涉及霸王集团旗下的龙头产品草药洗发露、首乌黑亮洗发露以及追风中草药洗发水。

主打“中药世家”的霸王国际旗下品牌主要有霸王、霸王男士、追风等系列，产品遍及洗发、护肤、凉茶等行业。消息一出，立刻引发连锁反应，霸王股价急跌，霸王集团紧接着在官方网站发表声明称，香港《壹周刊》中“霸王致癌”的文章是对集团的产品作“夸张失实”的“恶意报道”，声明并指集团的产品也同时符合世界包括欧盟及美国地区所定的标准，并表示对该媒体的失实报道及其所带来的影响保留采取进一步法律行动的权利。声明同时指出，微量的二恶烷绝对不会对人体健康构成威胁。

受创 市值一日蒸发24.5亿港元

受此消息影响，霸王集团港股昨天开盘放量大跌超过14%，14点25分，霸王集团临时宣布公司股份暂停交易。截至收盘，霸王集团港股大跌14.12%，收于5.04港元。经过记者计算，霸王集团市值从171.3亿港元缩减至146.8亿港元，一天之内霸王集团整体市值蒸发24.5亿港元。

“二恶烷事件”引发的股价跳水也让霸王集团创始人陈启源夫妇身价大幅缩水。去年7月3日，霸王集团登陆港交所，上市当天创始人陈启源夫妇身价升至近64亿港元，成为内地洗护品首富。招股说明书显示，陈启源夫妇拥有霸王集团股份达21亿股，占总股本28亿股的75%，昨天霸王集团股价下挫0.84港元，按此计算，陈启源夫妇身价缩水17.64亿港元。

回应 今日公布检验结果

“二恶烷是目前国内外清洁类、洗涤类产品中普遍存在且不可避免的物质。本公司没有刻意于产品中添加二恶烷作为原材料。它只是生产过程中的副产品，由所需使用之原材料或其他因素产生，且技术上无法避免，致含自然残留微量。”霸王集团首席执行长万玉华对北京晨报记者表示，该公司中草药洗发水含少量二恶烷是由于原材料残留所致，不会对消费者构成安全或健康疑虑及问题。

霸王集团相关人士同时称：“根据香港化妆品同业协会的数据，产品二恶烷含量不超出100ppm乃属安全范围内，所以霸王的所有产品是安全的。”“已将样品送交第三方检验机构进行检验，检验结果将于今日公布。”霸王集团同时称，于今日召开发布会对事件做进一步的说明。

Source : http://finance.ifeng.com/news/special/bawang/20100715/2409164.shtml

[Guest Guest]

somehow, u need some chemicals to create the 'foam' or else customers will complain not nice to wash cos little foam.

i dont believe a shampoo can be totally chemicals free even if it claims it is organics.

[Guest Guest]

Is Bawang shampoo safe to use?

[Guest Guest]

Singapore will always says none of the products on the shelf sold in Singapore is of any problem. Why cancer is getting more common these days, it's all in those products and food stuff! Who are we kidding to say they only check on Singapore products and not other countries , Singapore market so exclusive and special check conducted ? Who are we kidding ?

[alien]

somehow, u need some chemicals to create the 'foam' or else customers will complain not nice to wash cos little foam.

i dont believe a shampoo can be totally chemicals free even if it claims it is organics.

I think it is the SLS which found in shampoo is bad for ur hair. Even those organics product they also have SLS in them.