This information sheet was designed to be accessible, visually pleasing and to the point. It highlights the major questions about what parabens are, why customers are concerned and whether the associates were to present parabens as safe.

1. What Are Parabens?
• ‘Parabens’ is a general term for a family of preservatives commonly used in cosmetics, food,
and pharmaceuticals.
• Parabens work to prevent fungal and bacterial growth.
• The Body Shop uses a combination of parabens to protect our products from various
microorganisms that could compromise the freshness of our products.
Why Are Customers Concerned?
Various interpretations of a study published in 2004 (The Journal of Applied Technology) have
surfaced in a number of health magazines that link parabens to breast cancer. Findings indicate
that parabens have estrogenic activity, which is known to influence the incidence of breast cancer.
Are Parabens Safe?
Yes, the parabens in our products are safe!
• The parabens used in The Body Shop’s products were included in the recent study by The
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (an organization supported the FDA) that determined “parabens
are safe as used in cosmetics.”
• As for the study suggesting parabens are linked to breast cancer, the FDA posits that
“Although parabens can act similarly to estrogen, they have been shown to have much less
estrogenic activity than the body’s naturally occurring estrogen.”
• The FDA also specified that the cited studies were based on maximum daily exposure and “it
was implausible that parabens could increase the risk associated with exposure to
estrogenic chemicals.”
ParabensParabens
1. "Parabens." U S Food and Drug Administration Home Page. 31 Oct. 2007. Web. 08 Apr. 2010.
<http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductandIngredientSafety/SelectedCosmeticIngredients/ucm128042.htm>.
2. Darbe, P. D. "Concentrations of Parabens in Human Breast Tumors." Journal Of Applied Toxicology (2004): 5-13. SciFinder
Scholar. Web. 08 Apr. 2010.