Ten members of Congress have written to the Food and Drug Administration asking that the agency recall several brands of hair-straightening products that they say contain formaldehyde.
In a May 6 letter to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, U.S. House of Representative members wrote that the Brazilian Blowout Solution and Acai Professional Smoothing Solution both contain formaldehyde, but the chemical is not listed on the product labels as an ingredient.
"It is clear that the FDA needs to take decisive action," they wrote.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) had written to the agency last fall outlining complaints from Oregon hair stylists who had been experiencing acute reactions, such as nosebleeds, while working with the hair straighteners. The congressman also noted testing conducted by the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division and by Oregon Health and Science University found the two products contained between 6% and 12% formaldehyde.
He said that the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) subsequently issued a hazard alert warning salons to steer clear of formaldehyde-based straighteners.
Formaldehyde has been recognized as a possible carcinogen and has been the subject of 47 complaints to the Environmental Working Group, members of Congress noted in the letter.
"It is clear that the FDA needs to take decisive action," they wrote.
In addition to a recall, they are seeking a warning for products that contain formaldehyde, an investigation into the companies that are claiming their products are formaldehyde free, and a review of whether the chemical should be banned from hair straighteners.
According to the May 6 letter to Dr. Hamburg, the FDA responded in late November to Rep. Blumenauer’s initial letter and said that it was investigating whether the products were being marketed directly to consumers. "If so, failure to comply with the ingredient declaration requirement would constitute misbranding," responded the agency.