Pink ribbon overkill: Exploitation?

Pink ribbon overkill: Are companies exploiting breast cancer campaigns?
By Aimee Picchi, Oct 12th 2009

Walk into almost any store this month, and you'll be hit with a wash of pink products -- pink clogs, pink vegetable peelers, pink cleaning products, even pink food -- sold in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Consumers, feeling as if they're participating in the effort to find a cure for the disease, are snapping up pink-tinged everything. And, as a result, nearly all big consumer-products companies are tacking pink ribbons onto their products.

Yet not everything is coming up roses. Some breast-cancer advocates, patients and survivors are questioning whether the pink-ribbon movement has gone too far, with companies seeking higher sales from cause-related packaging without pledging much -- if anything -- in return. It's left up to shoppers to read the labels on pink-packaged products and determine whether their purchase will actually help a breast-cancer charity or foundation, they say.

"If the label says, 'Money will go to support breast cancer,' well, what does that mean?" says Barbara Brenner, the executive director of advocacy group Breast Cancer Action. "If it says it will support breast cancer awareness without being specific, it's not going anywhere."

Daily Finance surveyed a display of pink-packaged products at a Kmart store and sought to decipher the language on each item. Perhaps the least informative packaging was a pink Swiffer sweeper, made by consumer-products giant Procter & Gamble (PG). The label sports a pink ribbon accompanied by the phrase "early detection saves lives."

So how does purchasing a pink Swiffer help the cause? It's unclear from the label, because it contains no information about how its purchase will help support breast-cancer causes. And, according to a Procter & Gamble spokeswoman, the company will only make a two-cent donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation if a consumer uses a coupon from Procter & Gamble's brand saver coupon book, which was distributed in newspapers on Sept. 27. Without the coupon, the limited-edition pink packaging on the Swiffer is simply designed to draw awareness to the cause.

The packaging of another product, Herr's Whole Grain Pretzel Ribbons, proclaims that a portion of its sales will be donated to breast cancer awareness and research programs. But there's an asterisk accompanying that statement, which leads to a caveat that Herr's caps its donation at $15,000. A spokeswoman for Herr's didn't immediately return our call seeking a comment.

Capping donations is a particularly prevalent practice among corporations, and it's one that consumers should watch for. According to Samantha King, the author of Pink Ribbons, Inc.: Breast Cancer and the Politics of Philanthropy, "Consumers could be buying a product, and if the maximum has been reached, their product purchase doesn't help."

Do you think companies are exploiting breast cancer awareness month by selling pink products? Yes or No

Part of the confusion about how a pink-ribbon purchase may support the cause can be tied to the fact that no one owns the image or oversees its use, says Brenner of Breast Cancer Action. And because of that, it's difficult to say how much has been raised to help breast-cancer charities, although it's likely in the tens of millions of dollars, King adds.

Of course, some argue that it doesn't matter how the money is raised as long as funds are being donated to help fight the disease. Breast-cancer patient Jeanne Sather, who writes the blog The Assertive Cancer Patient, disagrees.

"Breast cancer is a disease. Not a marketing opportunity," she wrote in an emailed response to Daily Finance's questions. "It also matters that the companies, with a few exceptions, are not donating their own money, they are just passing on their customers' money. Then they are making a profit on top of that --larger than the donation in many if not most cases--and patting themselves on the backs for being good citizens. This is wrong."

Yet that hasn't stopped corporations from thinking pink. And there's a pretty big reason why that's the case. According to a Boston Globe article about criticism of pink-branded products, research has shown that 79% of consumers would likely be swayed to switch to a brand aligned with a cause.

Hershey Co. (HSY), for one, says it's both a way to be competitive and support its philanthropic initiatives. The chocolate maker recently began selling a line of Bliss chocolates with pink packaging, which states that the candy maker will donate $300,000 this year in support of the Young Survivors Coalition.

"We see it not only as a competitive business strategy, but one that fits in with our corporate values," says Hershey spokeswoman Jody Cook. "We know the pink ribbon resonates well with our customer, and our main target for the Bliss brand is women and mothers, so it's a perfect fit."

Still, a purchase of Bliss chocolates won't result in a part of the sale going in support of the charity. Cook says Hershey's donation isn't tied to sales of the chocolates, and that the company is clear on its packaging about its donation. Since it's the first year Bliss products have incorporated pink-ribbon branding, the company has yet to determine how the campaign will affect sales of the chocolates, she says.

Yet while pink corporate campaigns have undoubtedly raised millions for breast cancer research and charities, the sheer number of pink-ribboned products makes cancer patients such as Sather feel exploited. Last year, Sather says, she switched grocery stores to Whole Foods (WFMI) simply because it didn't have "lots of pink schlock."

If consumers really want to help fight cancer, they should consider directly giving money to organizations such as Gilda's Club, Team Survivor or Breast Cancer Action, Sather says. Or offer to help a cancer patient personally, such as doing her grocery shopping, she adds.

Despite concerns raised by advocates, it's unclear when the tide of pink-labeled products will slow down. That's because buying pink may just be too simple for many consumers to resist. As Brenner of Breast Cancer Action says, "People have come to believe that if they just do what they're told by corporate America, whether buying a product or doing a walk, they'll solve the breast cancer problem and not have to think about it."

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Another Pink Charade Almost Over

I am so moved when I see how many people are finally catching on to the Pink Charade that comes along every so often throughout the year. If you are a follower of my work you know it has been quite a long time (a few decades) that I've been promoting education and prevention (more like full disclosure) so that women aren't the lab rats for drugs or other therapy they are told to be the only option available (not).

One big concern is the falsity of mammogram. I personally have my long-time friend and his excellent research to thank for this enlightenment (John Gofman, MD).

I don't think I have to say more until next March or next October, so read the numerous posts in my blog and on my web site about these issues. Your health really does depend on knowing the facts.

There are others who believe in the same things and you can refer to them as well -

The Biggest Breast Cancer Risk Factor That No One Is Talking About

October Pink Promotions

I am on overload with all the pink stuff being pushed at shoppers these days. I guess it will be all month long as we again are bombarded with Race for the Cure.

I happened to watch Oprah yesterday, which is not on my regular schedule. Some of the comments were good, but so much was left out of the discussion. Too often ignored is information that is helpful to people dealing with this very stressful health issue.

We at Creating Health Institute would be very grateful if we could get donations for our year-long women's health initiative from Komen or other corporate programs that promote Komen. Donations for this effort go a long way to help women learn what their rights are, how to ask key questions, and also how to prevent cancer or recover faster, and many related issues.

We are for women supporting other women, but we aren't for false hope and mis-information. We are also for women understanding that they often overlook nurturing themselves and this lack of nurturing self is a key factor in the development of breast cancer according to Louise Hay. (Recall that Oprah often has Louise as a guest.) This is a spiritual link to disease and one almost non-existent in industrialized health care.

One overlooked piece of information you did not hear on Oprah is that you do not have to lose your hair if you are taking chemo. This can be prevented with the addition of specific supplements to your program just several days before each treatment.

Another issue that was excluded, and most likely because it is outside the standard - one-size-fits-all cancer protocols. This screening tool is much more effective than all of the options discussed (mammogram-MRI-ultrasound) on the program, and it is not based on radiation or radio frequency (RF), most promoting cancer, with ultrasound the lesser of the three.

Surely you did not hear that mammography does not save or extend lives and is not a justifiable practice. For some reason mammography-centric medicine has completely overlooked the much safer thermal and infrared imaging technologies. And further, no comments are made regarding the dangers of X-RAY exposure (mammogram and MRI).

So how much money do insurance companies and consumers pay out for radiation treatment of breast cancer? This practice results in only a less than 1% chance of improving survival. Is this worth such a large investment when so many medical claims are denied and there is virtually zero coverage of preventive practices? from the Lancet 2000; 355: 129-134. Source

Do you know that it takes 8-12 years for a "tumor" to be detected by mammogram?

The screening tool you need to know about is THERMOGRAPHY.

You should also know - something we have written about before - is that commercial yogurt is not a health food. These products are loaded with additives and the light types contain aspartame which is known to be carcinogenic. So are pink lids worth the price or the risk?

In your effort to not be swayed by massive marketing of pink lids on toxic products join the campaign to stop Yoplait from using rGBH hormone laced milk to make their synthetic goop.

Yoplait touts its yogurt as being healthy for women, but what's inside is anything but.

The reality is that Yoplait yogurt is made with milk from cows that have been injected with a synthetic hormone called recombinant bovine growth hormone (called rBGH or rBST). Research indicates that there are numerous health concerns linked to the consumption of dairy from cows injected with rBGH - and breast cancer is one of them.

The bottom line is that rBGH is unsafe - and unnecessary. In fact, the use of rBGH has already been banned in Australia, Canada, Japan, and all 27 countries in the European Union. In addition to the many companies that offer rBGH-free products, big-box stores and food and beverage chains like Wal-Mart, Publix, Kroger, Starbucks, and Chipotle have committed to reducing or completely eliminating dairy products made with rBGH from their stores. If these companies can do it, Yoplait can too.

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and in solidarity with millions of women, ask Yoplait to do the right thing and put a lid on rBGH.

And then of course there is the reality of exactly what cold, processed cereal is (which I have on my nutrition pages) and how it degrades health. How many cereal brands on the grocery aisle are displaying pink ribbons on the box this month?

We liked the mention of SELF-EXAM which you should do monthly.

We didn't like the exclusion of the impact of the high use of hormonally based products like birth control pills and the increase in cancer in young women. Perhaps this is part of the hormonal roulette played by these pharmaceuticals given for too many reasons and the severe nutritional deficiencies they cause.

We also didn't like the fact that 'cure rates' haven't changed substantially over the years, and as some say, "the evidence points to the fact that it takes 1200 women being screened for 14 years to save one life from breast cancer while scores suffer."

Yes, do stand up to breast cancer, but stand up for your rights and demand better prevention and much safer screening.

Our "Pink Fact Sheet" is available with your donation. All funds are tax deductible and solely support our women's health education programs.

"Conflict of Interest in Sponsoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month?

Screening mammography critic, Samuel Epstein MD, irritates the establishment every time he points out that in 1984, the American Cancer Society created the October National Breast Cancer Awareness Month sponsored by money from the Astra-Zeneca Company, the maker of Tamoxiphen, the best selling breast cancer drug. In addition, Astra-Zeneca also manufactures industrial chemicals that cause breast cancer. Some consider this a conflict of interest.

Epstein also points out that past ACS advertisement promised early detection results in a cure nearly 100% of the time. Even more seriously, the Awareness Month advertisements avoid any reference to information on avoidable causes and prevention of breast cancer." Read full article.

We also offer a wonderful bath salts blend that many women undergoing chemo and radiation use to reduce stress of the treatments.

And don't forget, vitamins do help! Just make sure you are purchasing non-soy based synthetic vitamin E such as is sold at Costco, Walmart, or other chain stores, or even in health stores. The same goes for B complex vitamins. Other supplements that help in prevention are selenium, iodine and thyroid support.

20% Reduction in Breast Cancer Risk Associated with Vitamin E Supplementation was observed by researchers among women that used vitamin E supplements and had a low dietary intake of vitamin E. Researchers also noted a 20% risk reduction in breast cancer risk in women who used supplemental vitamin B and had low dietary vitamin B intake.

The Shanghai Breast Cancer Study was conducted in Shanghai, China from 1996-1998 (Phase I) and 2002-2004 (Phase II). Study participants in phase I were aged 25 to 64 years old and in phase II 20 to 70 years old. It was a large population-based, case control study with 3,454 incident breast cancer cases and 3,474 controls. Researchers used unconditional logistic regression models to determine adjusted odds ratios for breast cancer risk associated with vitamin supplement use.

The researchers stated, "This study suggests that vitamin E and B supplements may confer protection against breast cancer among women who have low dietary intake of those vitamins."

Dorjgochoo, T., et al. “Vitamin Supplement Use and Risk for Breast Cancer: the Shanghai Breast Cancer Study” Breast Cancer Res. Treat., 2007, Oct. 5;

This report included references to green tea and soy. These are two items that I find from my research that should not be used in very large quantity. There are reports that green tea is linked with pancreatic cancer. Many reports regarding soy tel of its impact on lowering thyroid function (and immunity) and promoting breast cancer because it is so very estrogenic. The processing also does not add to its benefits, especially soy milk that is replete with toxic additives or the question of GMO ingredients. Just say NO to 'Silk'.

New Scientific Options for Preventing Breast Cancer
* Vitamin D, pomegranate, and curcumin may help promote breast health and reduce breast cancer risk.
* These foods contain an abundant variety of polyphenols, healthful compounds that regulate cell growth and metabolism.
* These compounds may act synergistically to promote breast health, so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.
* Research suggests that some of these compounds may even enhance the effects of chemotherapy and other drugs and treatments used for breast cancer.
* Although the mechanisms of action are not fully understood, most of these compounds are potent antioxidants and appear to promote apoptosis, or programmed cell death. Some of them also block inflammation, new blood vessel growth to the tumor, and even metastasis or tumor spread.
* Because of their long history of use as foods and supplements, these compounds appear to be safe, although more studies are needed to determine optimal combinations, dosages, and mechanisms of action.
* Several experts consulted encourage increased intake of these foods to promote breast health as well as overall health.