Don’t take our word for it. Here’s every fact on this site, with its evidence grade, its caveats, and a link to the source, so you can check us.
We start you on the strong ones: findings that have been replicated or come from one large, well-controlled study. Moderate and weak facts are here too, labeled for what they are. Use “Link to this fact” to share a single card.
The industry / Other evidence
The flavor trade association argues the Delaney Clause is 'antiquated science' that should be reformed, and it presents FDA's 2018 delisting of seven rodent-carcinogenic flavors, while also calling them safe at use levels, as proof.
Weak evidence: An advocacy position from FEMA authors in a review, not a finding; the petitioning NGOs and the statute's text take the opposite view.
Source: Hallagan 2020, Food and Chemical Toxicology Industry-funded Link to this fact
The industry / Other evidence
The dye trade is still active: distributors were found for most of 60 listed hazardous dyes, up to 44 for some, mostly in China and India, including two IARC-suspected carcinogens.
Weak evidence: Rough lookchem.com search; shows availability, not use in textiles.
Source: Danish EPA 2014, Survey of Chemical Substances in Consumer Products No. 129 Link to this fact
The industry / Other evidence
EWG states it accepts no programmatic funding from food, household-cleaning, or personal-care companies, no funding for corporate-sponsored research, and no payment of any kind for inclusion or scoring in Skin Deep, Guide to Healthy Cleaning, or Food Scores.
Weak evidence: This is a policy statement by EWG itself; 'programmatic funding' is not defined and no audit of compliance is on the page.
Source: EWG Funding & Reports page, 2026, EWG website (web page) Link to this fact
The industry / Other evidence
At its March 2015 meeting a CIR panelist said the Panel does not consider carcinogen-containing ingredients safe in products, so polysorbates enhancing a carcinogen 'wouldn't be an issue'; other participants noted known carcinogens, including formaldehyde, still occur in some cosmetics.
Weak evidence: Transcript of oral discussion, not a finding; the final wording of the Discussion was left to editorial comment.
Source: CIR 2015 draft Industry-funded Link to this fact
The industry / Review of other studies
Major retailers have pledged to cut phthalates, for example Sephora aiming to reduce 8 phthalates by 50% over 3 years, and CVS, Walmart, Rite Aid and Loblaw working toward elimination in beauty and personal care products, which the authors cite as proof that elimination is feasible.
Weak evidence: Pledges as reported by the authors in 2020 from company announcements; delivery not verified here.
Source: Engel 2021, American Journal of Public Health Link to this fact
Information, not medical advice. See also: myths we won’t tell you.