Overview
- The Million Marker Research Institute study, published Aug. 11–12, tested 113 products across 12 categories and found 98% contained at least one chemical not listed on the label and 85% contained at least one unlabeled chemical known or suspected to be hazardous.
- Researchers used nontargeted analysis to scan broadly for chemicals and detected 3,141 chemical signals, identifying 303 compounds with confirmed, probable, or tentative confidence; products contained an average of 51 chemicals versus 16 listed on labels.
- One in four tested items contradicted on‑package claims, for example products labeled “phthalate‑free” that contained phthalates, and more than half of products failed the study’s pass/fail rating with shampoos and ingredient oils among the worst.
- The authors say contaminants can appear unintentionally through raw materials, processing equipment, packaging, chemical reactions, or supplier changes and note that current rules—such as listing complex mixtures as “fragrance” and limited finished‑product testing—can hide those contaminants.
- The researchers will publish the full product list in a forthcoming report and recommend making nontargeted finished‑product screening routine; in the meantime they advise consumers to prefer fragrance‑free products and consider packaging choices to reduce exposure.