Article by:
Ma. Teresa Montemayor
MANILA – A breastfeeding advocacy group and environmental watchdog on Thursday reminded mothers and caregivers to scrutinize the ingredients of wet wipes, warning that some products being sold may contain banned preservatives linked to skin allergies.
The reminder came following discovery of seven brands of baby wipes containing methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) and methylisothiazolinone (MI) being sold in at least three retail establishments in Antipolo City.
The products were manufactured in 2025, beyond the 2018 grace period for the removal of MCI/MI on leave-on cosmetics as provided under Food and Drug Authority (FDA) Circular 2017-006 and reiterated in FDA Advisory 2018-034.
The EcoWaste Coalition said it has already informed the FDA about the alleged breach of the ban on MCI/MI on leave-on cosmetics and requested appropriate action to protect young consumers from allergy-causing substances.
EcoWaste Coalition national coordinator Aileen Lucero urged the public to minimize the use of wet wipes in relation to environmental concerns.
“It’s indeed better to minimize the use of wet wipes as most of them contain plastic fibers that don’t break down easily, contributing to residual waste and the so-called ‘fatbergs’ in the sewer system,” Lucero said.
“Every wet wipe you don’t use helps keep plastics and microplastics out of the environment.”
For her part, Arugaan executive director Innes Fernandez said: “Consumers are advised to read the product label very carefully as some products marketed for cleaning the skin of young children, particularly the baby’s hands, mouth and bottom, may contain allergy-causing substances.”
Fernandez advised parents to opt for safer alternatives.
“Better stick to lukewarm water, mild soap, and cotton balls for routine diaper changes, saving wet wipes for when you’re on the go and water isn’t handy,” she added.
Based on the groups' hazardous product monitoring on Feb. 22, these products were found to list MCI/MI as ingredients and were sold for as low as PHP15 to PHP53 per pack: Animo 123 Kid’s Baby Wipes; Animo Baby Wipes; Animo Happy Baby Baby Wipes; Animo Magic Fresh Baby Wipes; Kim Best Baby Wipes; Mama Baby Wipes; and New Lovedcare Baby Tender Baby Wipes.
Of the seven products flagged, six are set to expire in 2028 and one in 2027.
MCI/MI, a preservative combination used against bacteria, molds and yeast in personal care products, is a known potent cause of allergic contact dermatitis.
According to the Philippine Dermatological Society, contact dermatitis is a skin inflammation or eczema triggered by substances that come in contact with the skin, which may be chemical, biological, or physical agents.
To reduce children’s exposure to sensitizing chemicals, the groups advised parents to use lukewarm water, mild soap and cotton balls for cleaning babies, and to use wet wipes only when water is unavailable.
If opting for wet wipes, consumers should check for valid FDA authorization through the agency’s product verification portal, read labels carefully, avoid products containing MCI/MI, reject items without ingredient lists or expiry dates, choose alcohol-free and unscented variants, avoid using wipes on broken skin, and rinse with water after use to remove possible chemical residues.
Consumers are also urged to properly dispose of used wipes to prevent clogged pipes, damaged recyclables and marine pollution. (PNA)
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