Anti-dandruff update

After using the Hopes anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner since we received them, I'm afraid to report that Geoff's dandruff is back and so I'll finish those products off and he'll have no choice but to go back to Head & Shoulders if we can't find something else that works. I had thought to get him the No Flakin' Way that Laura mentioned in one of her comments. Sainsbury's don't seem to carry it on their website, they list 29 Clairol Herbal Essences products but not No Flakin' Way and for sheer convenience, it would be handy if I could buy it with my weekly on-line shop but I'll pop into Boots next week when I'm in Cambridge and see if they have it.

Sainsbury's do carry Johnson & Johnson's Neutrogena T/Gel Anti-Dandruff Shampoo so I've written to J&J via their website asking whether it contains palm oil or palm oil derived products.

Whilst searching Sainsbury's site, I noticed that they now have an own brand of dishwasher tablets and in the absence (still) of a response from Reckitt Benckiser, at the same time as writing to them about the extraordinary use of palm oil in the silverside beef joint, I've asked Sainsbury's about that product as well.

As usual, responses will be posted here.

Beef joints for vegetarians?

I've been meaning to post this for a while as you can probably tell from the "Best By" date on this joint of beef. You can't read the ingredients list very well but here's what it says underneath "small silverside with added basting fat":
Beef (87%), Palm Oil, Rapeseed Oil

I really have to take Sainsbury's to task over this. I can understand them adding fat to a lean cut of beef so it stays moister during cooking but why would you add vegetable fat to a joint of meat?

It can't be to try and persude vegetarians to try eating beef and I hope I don't have to explain why I don't think this can't be the case!

It can't be on the grounds of cost because it must be cheaper when butchering the cow to use fat from the animal itself.

It can't be on the grounds of health because last time I looked into it, the World Health Organisation reported that Palm Oil wasn't particularly healthy compared to other kinds of fats.

It can't be on the grounds of fewer air miles because this was a UK Farm Assured joint and Palm Oil trees only thrive in the tropics so why on earth has Sainsbury's done this?!

Odd characters

I occasionally get comments on this blog that don't make it to the comments section as I reject them. They're usually really general, don't relate to my posting, don't really say anything and are anonymous, all of them include characters looking like this:

I'm assuming that my computer is substituting something else for a font that I don't have on my pc and I'm guessing that it's for a foreign language but I was wondering if anyone knew for sure? I reject them as I think they're just spam but I do wonder if I might be wrong.

Updates - shampoo/conditioner, Hob Brite

The anti-dandruff shampoo and a couple of other palm oil free products (conditioner and dry skin moisturiser) I blogged about a few days ago have arrived from Health Monthly. The smell of them isn't unpleasant, very neutral (which means my husband won't moan about whiffing of girly-stuff like he does with some of the Lush soap I buy! But I wouldn't describe it as pleasant either.

Anyway, if the anti-dandruff shampoo works on Geoff and in the absence of a response from Proctor & Gamble, it will mean one less suspected product removed from our cupboards for good.

I chased P&G up a couple of weeks ago about Head & Shoulders shampoo as well as Fairy Liquid, Oil of Olay
and Flash One for All. If I don't get a reply soon, I think it's safe to assume they're ignoring me in the same way as Unilever are and therefore all those products will not be purchased again. Actually, whilst they've been delaying, I started buying Sainsbury's washing up liquid as they were really quick to let me know that it was palm oil free. I'm also using Little Satsuma's moisturiser on my face so if Proctor and Gamble are indeed ignoring me, I only really need to replace Flash One for All.

I chased up Reckitt Benckiser at the same time; they they have responded as follows:

Thank you for your e-mail.

I am waiting to hear from the relevant department so I can pass the correct information onto you Ms Doran.

As soon as I have an answer I will be in contact with you.

I'll let you know when they do.

On Hob Brite, I have received a further letter from Homecare Technology who make it.

Thank you for your recent letter in which you have listed the chemicals that can contain palm oil or are derived from palm oil.

The production staff has looked over the list to see which products are used here in our manufacturing plant and there are four items that we do purchase; none of which are used in Hob Brite

For your information they are:

Caprylyl glycol
Isopropyl
Mono-glycerides of fatty acids
Sodium Laureth Sulfate

So, it sounds as if Hob Brite may well be palm oil free. The reason I'm not 100% sure is that they have ignored the concern that I raised in my letter stating that if my list of euphemisms for palm oil/palm oil derivatives is not complete, there may be other suspect ingredients that are contained in Hob Brite that I'm just not aware of yet. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt though (as well as that, I haven't found anything else that does a good job except for Cif which Unilever won't tell me about).

Another problem of deforestation

This is a hilarious picture! The artist, whoever you are, deserves much credit for highlighting a serious problem in such a funny manner!

It came to me via one of those e-mail circulars that find their way round mailboxes.

I wish I knew who to credit with the copyright for the image; I wouldn't normally dream of using an image without permission but as I am spreading the word about the cause that s/he is highlighting and that must be the reason it was created, I am hoping they won't mind. Whoever are you, I applaud and admire your work!

Homecare response

Homecare Technology who make Hob Brite have sent a response to my enquiry:

Thank you for your letter dated 7 March regarding Palm Oil.

I have spoken with our production team and can confirm that we do not use Palm OIl in any of our products. The ingredients used in Hob Brite are sources from third party companies and as such we are not able to giveyou an unequivocal statement, but can say that as far as we are aware they are also free from Palm Oil.

Hope this information is helpful.

I'm afraid it isn't really because I don't know whether I can continue to use Hob Brite or not. I have written back to them giving them the long list of ingredients that may be palm oil derived and asking them to check their ingredients list and then ask the third parties.

I have pointed out that Sainsbury's and Tesco are both willing to provide unequivocal yes or no statements concerning palm oil in their own brand products and I am hopeful that Homecare Technology will be willing to do the same.

Anti-dandruff shampoo update

I have received a response from Body and Soul Health products (who make Hopes Relief products) saying that their anti-dandruff shampoo (recommended by Donna in the comments section on my last posting about anti-dandruff shampoo) saying that it doesn't contain palm oil. I have therefore ordered some from UK supplier Health Monthly. I've never heard of this company but they take PayPal so I've ordered some on-line. As I haven't had to give them my financial details, I'm willing to trust them for the cost of a bottle of shampoo.

I'll let you know how Geoff gets on with it.

No response yet from Proctor & Gamble or Reckitt Benckiser to my latest communications. I will chase them in a couple of days.