Definition:
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is a cleaning agent that can also be found in personal care products such as toothpaste and shaving cream, as well as in aspirin, heart medications and other prescription medicines. It removes dirt and deposits by surrounding dirt particles to loosen them from the surface they're attached to, so they can be rinsed away. Over the years, SLS has received some bad press due to emails that began circulating in the late 90s regarding alleged cancer concerns. In fact, three different authorities – OSHA, the National Toxicology Program and the International Agency for Research on Cancer – have all rated SLS as being non-carcinogenic.
Interested in researching ingredients? Here are some commonly used sources.
We make ingredient choices based on scientific research and our own scientists’ expertise and perspective. But even scientists sometimes disagree about how or where certain ingredients should be used. We encourage anyone with questions to read up on areas of debate. That way, you can make the choices you feel are best for your family. Here are independent sources – both consumer and scientific – spanning various industries that use ingredients similar to ours:
