A viral post claims the dishwashing liquid Fairy contains hormone-disrupting and carcinogenic chemicals and should be banned. However, official safety data and regulatory assessments show the claim is misleading.
Social Media Posts
Social media posts say the popular dishwashing brand Fairy contains “hormone disruptors” and “potentially carcinogenic ingredients,” urging consumers to switch to natural soaps like Castile soap instead and suggest that Fairy should be banned.
We decided to do a fact check on this.
Fact Check
What are the ingredients of Fairy Dishwashing liquid?
The UK version of Fairy washing-up liquid is mostly water plus detergent surfactants and common preservatives. For example, product labels list “15–30% anionic surfactants, 5–15% non-ionic surfactants” along with preservatives like methylisothiazolinone (MI) and phenoxyethanol and unspecified “perfumes” . Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) and lauramine oxide are typical surfactants in Fairy as confirmed by product safety data sheets.(SDS)
Are these ingredients present in harmful concentrations according to scientific or regulatory standards?
All of Fairy’s components are approved for use by EU/UK regulators. None are on the EU’s candidate list of known endocrine disruptors or IARC’s list of carcinogens. For example, SLES and lauramine oxide – Fairy’s surfactants – have no carcinogen or reproductive-toxin classification .Preservatives like MI are known allergens (EU restricts MI in cosmetics due to contact dermatitis), but they are not identified as endocrine carcinogens. Phenoxyethanol likewise is not classified as a hormone disruptor and is allowed in cosmetics at up to 1%. In short, scientific/toxicological data do not support the claim that Fairy “contains carcinogenic ingredients.” A Danish test noted only that Fairy (like many fragranced products) contains perfumes that could cause skin allergy in sensitive people, but perfume chemicals are not automatically endocrine disruptors or carcinogens. In fact, the Fairy SDS reports no endocrine-disrupting substances above trace levels . Overall, Fairy’s ingredients are used at low concentrations deemed safe for consumers and the environment.
Do Fairy dishwashing liquids actually contain chemicals linked to hormone disruption or cancer?
The viral post suggests Fairy has endocrine-disrupting chemicals, but official sources say otherwise. The recent Danish test did flag some Fairy products (e.g. Fairy Platinum and Ultra Original) with a poor “C” rating because they contained trace amounts of an antioxidant Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) and a UV filter (benzophenone-4), both suspected to have endocrine activity . However, even EU scientific committees have evaluated these substances and found them safe at normal use levels. For example, the EU’s SCCS panel reviewed benzophenone-4 (used as a sunscreen stabilizer) and concluded it is “safe when used… up to a maximum concentration of 5%” – far above any level that would be in dish soap. Similarly, the EU found BHT safe in personal care up to 0.8% , whereas any BHT in Fairy is present at only a few parts per million. Importantly, the Fairy Safety Data Sheet explicitly states “Carcinogenicity: None known” and “no substances… above 0.1% that are confirmed endocrine disruptors” . In practical terms, regulators do not classify Fairy’s ingredients as carcinogens or endocrine disruptors. Any hormonal or cancer risk at household exposure levels is considered negligible. (The main health concerns noted on packaging are eye irritation and skin contact warnings – typical for detergents.)
Is Castile soap truly a safer and more eco-friendly alternative?
Castile soap is indeed plant-based and generally milder.Pure Castile soap (e.g. Dr. Bronner’s) is made by saponifying vegetable oils (coconut, olive, hemp, etc.) with lye – it contains no synthetic detergents, preservatives, or artificial fragrances . As a result, Castile soaps are biodegradable and “reputed for their particular mildness”. Dr. Bronner’s formulas have earned an EWG Verified mark, meaning they meet strict safety standards (all ingredients are at low concentrations and avoid any of EWG’s “unacceptable” chemicals) . In practice, using Castile soap for dishes means you are mainly using salt-of-fatty-acids plus natural oils, which most people tolerate well. It has no preservatives like MI or any hidden phthalates. However, castile soaps are quite alkaline (pH 9–10) and sometimes scented with essential oils, which can irritate very sensitive skin. An unscented Castile variant is best if you want to avoid any allergenic fragrances. Overall, Castile is a safer eco-friendly option in that it contains only natural ingredients known to biodegrade, but it’s not because Fairy is unusually toxic– it’s simply a gentler, more “back-to-basics” product.
Conclusion
Fairy’s ingredients (surfactants, MI, phenoxyethanol, perfumes) are standard for liquid detergent and are not listed as carcinogenic or officially endocrine disrupting. Official data sheets for Fairy (Original/Platinum) say “none known” for carcinogenicity and “no confirmed endocrine disruptors” above 0.1%. Consumer tests flagged trace substances like BHT, but EU regulators have judged those safe at the very low levels used. Castile soap, by contrast, is simply soap from plants – it contains no synthetic additives, so it is biodegradable and generally gentle. In conclusion, the viral claims overstate the risks: Fairy is used under conditions that experts deem safe, and any real hazard (like skin irritation in sensitive individuals) is unrelated to cancer or hormone disruption.
Title:Does Fairy Dishwashing Liquid Contain Harmful or Carcinogenic Chemicals?
Fact Check By: Rashmitha DiwyanjaleeResult: Misleading
