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French public warned to avoid ‘toxic lip balms’

Lip balm users have been warned by a leading French consumer group about the dangers of smearing their lips with the product after their tests found that certain balms contained toxic substances.

Published: 26 September 2017 16:13 CEST

French public warned to avoid 'toxic lip balms'

Photo: AFP

Half of the 21 products put to the test by UFC Que-choisir were discovered to have potentially harmful ingredients, including lip balms from large cosmetic brands Garnier, La Roche Posay, Carmex, and Le Petit Marseillais.

The consumer group warned consumers to stay away from the balms which were found to have carcinogenic substances.

Others contained Mosh – mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons – which if swallowed, can make their way into the lymph nodes and liver and inflame them.

“The level of Mosh (mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons) in these lip balms is extremely undesirable, on account of their toxicity when they are ingested,” the report said.

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But there is good news for anyone with chapped lips – the safest, most effective, and hydrating lip balm was found to the cheapest.

Lidl’s “Cien” branded balm was the cheapest of the bunch priced at just 75 centimes.

“The enormous price differences aren’t reflected in the results,” said representatives from UFC Que Choisir.

The lip balms consumers were urged to avoid were:

Macadamia lip balm from Yves Rocher
Trésors de miel nourishing lip balm from Garnier Ultra Doux
Original classic care from Labello
Classic moisturising lip balm from Carmex
Nultric transforming balm for dry lips from La Roche Posay
Homéostick from Boiron
Cold cream nourishing balm from Avène
Nutrition balm for dry lips from Le petit Marseillais
Hydrating lip balm from Aptonia
Hydrating lip balm from Uriage

Earlier this year, French authorities promised to investigate 1,000 cosmetic products found to contain illegal and undesirable substances after the consumer group published a similar report.

By Anna Schaverien

Danish parties agree to raise abortion limit to 18 weeks

The government struck the deal with the Socialist Left Party, the Red Green Alliance, the Social Liberal Party and the Alternative party, last week with the formal announcement made on Monday

“In terms of health, there is no evidence for the current week limit, nor is there anything to suggest that there will be significantly more or later abortions by moving the week limit,” Sophie Løhde, Denmark’s Minister of the Interior and Health, said in a press release announcing the deal.

The move follows the recommendations of Denmark’s Ethics Council, which in September 2023 proposed raising the term limit, pointing out that Denmark had one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Western Europe.

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Under the deal, the seven parties, together with the Liberal Alliance and the Conservatives, have also entered into an agreement to replace the five regional abortion bodies with a new national abortion board, which will be based in Aarhus.

From July 1st, 2025, this new board will be able to grant permission for abortions after the 18th week of pregnancy if there are special considerations to take into account.

The parties have also agreed to grant 15-17-year-olds the right to have an abortion without parental consent or permission from the abortion board.

Marie Bjerre, Denmark’s minister for Digitalization and Equality, said in the press release that this followed logically from the age of sexual consent, which is 15 years old in Denmark.

“Choosing whether to have an abortion is a difficult situation, and I hope that young women would get the support of their parents. But if there is disagreement, it must ultimately be the young woman’s own decision whether she wants to be a mother,” she said.

The bill will be tabled in parliament over the coming year with the changes then coming into force on June 1st, 2025.

The right to free abortion was introduced in Denmark in 1973.

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