A large number of Nivea skin products contain up to four chemicals that are to be found on the European Union list of substances suspected of causing hormonal disturbances, according to a list from the Danish Consumer Council.

Over the past week, the council has asked consumers to report skin products containing substances that are said to potentially disturb hormonal balance, and has received reports of some 400 products. Nivea is at the top of the list with 28 products reported – among others facial cream for men, sun lotion and creams for women.

Another brand with eight products for both men and women on the list is Biotherm.

One consumer who has reported to the council is Lisbeth E. Christensen from Odense who has reported her Biotherm body lotion Lait Corpore.

“I was really happy with it until I found out how much rubbish it contains. Now it’s going straight into the dustbin,” Christensen says.

Consumer Council Department Chief Vagn Jelsøe says he has been impressed at consumer interest.

“It shows that this is something consumers are really involved in, and it shows that the issue of cosmetics with substances that cause hormonal imbalances is a major problem. Companies and politicians must now really pull their socks up and stop harmful substances,” Jelsøe says and urges consumers to continue reporting.

Producer: Not illegal
While Nivea has not wished to comment on the issue, L’Oréal – which owns Biotherm – has responded by e-mail.

“The ingredients in out products are legal, and even though a product contains an ingredient that is on the EU priority list that you mention, of substances that potentially cause hormone imbalance, that is not the same as saying that the product does cause hormonal imbalance,” L’Oréal says in an e-mail.