Pink Ribbons: Think Before You Pink

In 2011, pinkwashing reached a new low with Promise Me, a perfume commissioned by Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Promise Me contains unlisted chemicals that are regulated as toxic and hazardous, have not been adequately evaluated for human safety, and have demonstrated negative health effects.

Promise Me contains chemicals not listed on the label that are regulated as toxic and hazardous, have not been adequately evaluated for human safety, and have demonstrated negative health effects.

• Health concerns associated with Promise Me perfume
• Ingredients with demonstrated negative health effects
• Chemicals that are regulated as toxic or hazardous
• Chemicals that have not been adequately tested for human safety
• A chemical banned by International Fragrance Association (IFRA)

Specific chemicals of concern include:

Galaxolide—a synthetic musk that works as a hormone disruptor and is found in blood, breast milk, and even newborns.

Toluene—a potent neurotoxicant linked to a variety of demonstrated negative health effects and is widely known as one of the toxic trio. Toluene is banned by IFRA.

These chemicals and several other chemicals are not identified on the product list of ingredients. Only by independent testing of Promise Me was BCAction able to discover that Promise Me contains chemicals of severe negative health effect.

Following the money shows that out of a $59 bottle of the perfume, $1.51 of proceeds goes to research.This is a serious conflict of interest for Susan G. Komen to accept donations from the manufacturer of Promise Me perfume.