Cracking Controversy

The concept of “sealed and preserved” is well-portrayed by the visual of a pull-top lid, and it’s relevant to many industries—from food and beverages, to tennis balls. You see it in forms including foil seals, plastic rings and inserts, and even secondary packaging. It’s really no wonder, since preservation is crucial to the contents (and mandated) . . . although I’m not so sure about the tennis balls.

I recently attended the FCE Cosmetique exhibition and COLAMIQC Congress in São Paulo. Here, presentations by Ravi Pillai, of Symrise; Giovanni Caritá Junior, of Ipel Itibanyl Produtos Especiais; and Renata Platcheck Raffin, of the Centro Universitário Franciscano and Inventiva; highlighted alternative preservative systems. Preservation is also among the most popular search topics on the Cosmetics & Toiletries website, so we know it’s an important subject to many readers.

John F. Krowka, of the US Personal Care Products Council, weighs in with his article, “The Importance of Formaldehyde-Donor (FD) Preservatives in Personal Care Products.” Krowka notes that preservatives are under attack by consumers, yet the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandates that products be free from pathogenic microorganisms. He walks this line of contradiction by clarifying for product developers the effects and benefits of these “vilified” FD-preservatives.

These controversies are not new; they are renewed challenges for the industry to face. At least we didn’t open a new can of worms for you.

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