This one is a tricky one. I couldn’t find a website for the UK - so had to post this question via the Johnson and Johnson US corporate site. (http://www.jnj.com).
I was surprised that they wanted to know my birth date before I could submit a question…? Why?
Anyway here is what I’ve asked.
Sent via website at about 4.40am Weds 8th March 2006.
Firstly - I can’t find a contact site for the UK….
To my question - there has recently been an issue raised here in the UK concerning Benzene in Soft Drinks. This is apparently caused by a reaction between Citric Acid and Sodium Benzoate. I note that Johnson’s Junior Shampoo contains the same ingredients. Can you tell me how much benzene is present in this shampoo as a consequence, and what is a safe level for Shampoo.
Thanks
Simon
All responses received will be publised at http://trulyresponsible.org
Some days later I heard back from Johnson and Johnson with the following totally inadequate response which can be seen blow in full. I am really surprised by this response, especially given the nature of the enquiry.
From: customerservicec@cpcus.jnj.com [mailto:customerservicec@cpcus.jnj.com]
Sent: 13 March 2006 09:02
To: simon@trulyresponsible.org
Subject: Re: JohnsonsBaby Website: Thank you for contacting the Information Center. Reference #: 011843334A.Dear Consumer:
Thank you for contacting the Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Information Center. It is always important to hear from our consumers, and we appreciate the time you have taken to contact us.
Johnson & Johnson markets products on a global basis. Although they are all the same high quality worldwide, we do offer different products in different countries. We also have affiliate locations throughout the world, and each location is responsible for products sold in their particular area.
Please contact the Johnson & Johnson in your location for information and assistance on products and services available in your particular area. Phone numbers for our affiliates are provided for your reference, as many of our affiliates do not currently have e-mail addresses where consumers can contact them. Please note also that if we do not have an affiliate location in your particular country, we have provided the phone number for the Johnson & Johnson location closest to your geographic area.
We are pleased to offer our consumers the opportunity to visit our websites in certain countries. These sites offer product information as
well as Contact Us sections for you to send inquiries. We do encourage you to visit our website if one is offered in your country. These are:
Argentina www.jnjarg.com
Australia www.jnjaust.com.au
Brazil www.jnbrasil.com.br
Canada www.jnjcanada.com
Germany www.jnjgermany.de
India www.jnjindia.com
New Zealand www.jnjaust.com.auThank you again for contacting Johnson & Johnson.
Albania (386+1)585-1800
Algeria 212-22-33-7564
Angola (27+43)709-3211
Antigua 868-640-3772
Argentina (54+2322) 490-101
Armenia 7(095)755-8350
Aruba 868-640-3772
Australia (61+2)8260-8000
Austria (43+6245)894-0
Azerbaijan (095)755-8350
Bahamas 868-640-3772
Bahrain (971+4)331-3309
Baltic States 7(095)755-8350
Barbados (868)640-3772
Belarus 7(095)755-8350
Belgium & Netherlands (32+2) 749-5211
Belize 868-640-3772
Bermuda 868-640-3772
Bolivia (386+1)585-1800
Bosnia (386+1)585-1800
Botswana (27+43)709-3211
Brazil (55+11)3030-8118
British Virgin Islands 868-640-3772
Bulgaria (386+1)585-1800
Burundi (27+43)709-3211
Cambodia 66-2-326-0193
Cameroon (27+43)709-3211Canada 800-265-7323 (McNeil) 800-361-8068 (J&J )
Cape Verde Island (27+43)709-3211
Cayman Island 868-640-3772
Central African Rep. (27+43)709-3211
Chad 351-436-8724
Chile (56+2)623-0220
China (86+21)6430-2010
Columbia (57+1)219-1200
Congo (27+43)709-3211
Croatia (386+1)585-1800
Curacao 868-640-3772
Cyprus (030+1)687-5555
Czech Republic (420+2)33-01-22-22
Denmark 48-16-81-16
Djibouti (27+43)709-3211
Dominica 868-640-3772
Dominican Republic (809)542-2627
Egypt (20+2)267-5148
Erutrea (27+43)709-3211
Estonia (372+6)266-500
Ethiopia (27+43)709-3211
Finland 0203-03002
France (33+1)5500-4800
Georgia 7(095)755-8350
Germany (49+211)4305-0
Ghana (27+43)709-3211
Greece (030+1)687-5555
Guatemala (502)440-9930
Herzegovina 386+1 585-1800
Hong Kong (852)2738-2888
India (61+2)8260-8000
Indonesia (61+2)8260-8000
Iraq (971+4)331-3309
Ireland (353+1)451-0544
Israel (972+9)959-1170
Italy (39+06)9109-61
Ivory Coast (27+43)709-3211
Jamaica (876)749-5272
Japan (81+3)5632-1200
Jordan (971+4)331-3309
Kazakhstan 7(095)755-8350
Kenya (27+43)709-3211
Kirgiszstan 7(095)755-8350
Korea (82+2)791-0114
Kuwait (971+4)331-3309
Laos 66-2-326-0193
Latvia (371+7)225-455
Lebanon (971+4)331-3309
Liberia (27+43)709-3211
Lithuania (370+2)39.55.55
Macedonia (386+1)585-1800
Madagascar (27+43)709-3211
Malawi (27+43)709-3211
Malaysia (60+3)7781-4166
Maldives (27+43)709-3211
Mali 351-436-8724
Martinique 33-1-5500-4800Mauritania 212-2-33-7564
Mexico (52)(55)5484-2300
Republic of Moldova 7(095)755-8350
Mongolia 7(095)755-8350
Montserrat 868-640-3772
Morocco 00-212-22-53-53-00
Mozambique (27+43)709-3211
Namibia (27+43)709-3211
Netherlands & Belgium (32+2) 749-5211
New Zealand (64+9)273-9044
Nicaragua 502-599-5950
Niger 351-436-8724
Nigeria (27+43)709-3211
Norway 800-34-090
Oman (971+4)331-3309
Palestine (971+4)331-3309
Panama (507)269-0933
Paraguay (595+21)608-800
Peru (51+1)362-0680
Philippines (63+2)824-7901
Poland (48+22)668-0000
Portugal (35+1)436-8724
Puerto Rico (787)272-1848
Qatar (971+4)331-3309
Romania (386+1)585-1800
Russia 7(095)755-8350
Rwanda (27+43)709-3211
Saudi Arabia (971+4)331-3309
Senegal (27+43)709-3211
Serbia 7(095)755-8350
Seychelles (27+43)709-3211
Sierra Leone (27+43)709-3211
Singapore (65)6265-8922
Slovakia 421-2-5441-7841
Slovenia 386+1 535-1800
Solmalia 351-436-8724
South Africa (27+43)709-3211
Spain (34+91)722-8000
St. Croix (787)272-1848
St. John (787)272-1848
St. Kitts 868-640-3772
St. Lucia 868-640-3772
St. Maarten 868-640-3772
St. Thomas (787)272-2579
St. Vincent 868-640-3772
Sudan (27+43)709-3211
Surinam 55+11 3030 8118
Sweden 202-24-00-25
Switzerland 41-41-725-5020
Syria (971+4)331-3309
Tahiti 331-5500-4800
Taiwan 886+2 2732-7999
Tajikistan 7(095)755-8350
Tanzania (61+2)8260-8000
Thailand (66+2)326-0193
Togo (27+43)709-3211
Trinidad 868-640-3772
Turkey (90+212)317-4100Turkmenistan 7(095)755-8350
Turks & Caicos Islands 868-640-3772
Uganda (27+43)709-3211
Ukraine 7(095)755-8350
United Arab Emirates (971+4)331-3309
United Kingdom (44+1344)87-1000
United States 888-638-5242
Uzebekistan 7(095)755-8350
Vietnam (848)821-4812
Virgin Islands - US (787)272-2579
Western Sahara 351-436-8724
Yemen (971+4)331-3309
Yugoslavia 386+1 565-1800
Zaire 351-436-8724
Zambia (27+43)709-3211
Zanzibar (27+43)709-3211
Zimbabwe (27+43)709-3211Thank you again for contacting Johnson & Johnson in the United States.
011843334A
Clearly I found this to be an inadequate reply, so I replied:
To: customerservicec@cpcus.jnj.com
Sent: Mon 13/03/2006 14:11
Subject: RE: JohnsonsBaby Website: Thank you for contacting the Information Center. Reference #: 011843334A.Please will you provide me with a contact email address for customer services here in the UK or for someone who can answer my query in detail.
I wish to communicate in writing rather than via the phone as I wish to keep a permanent record of the response. I find it hard to believe that a global company such as yours cannot provide me with an answer from any one of your business units.
Best regards
Simon
——————————————————————-
Simon Warrick
trulyresponsible.orgtrulyresponsible.org is a voluntary organisation of consumers that regularly asks questions of suppliers of goods to gain a greater understanding of the life cycle of products.
the information discovered may be published in full at http://trulyresponsible.org
To which I received the following reply
From: customerservicec@cpcus.jnj.com [mailto:customerservicec@cpcus.jnj.com]
Sent: 14 March 2006 09:52
To: simon@trulyresponsible.org
Subject: Re: Johnson & Johnson: Thank you for contacting the Information Center. Reference #: 011843334B.Dear Consumer:
Thank you for contacting the Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Information Center. It is always important to hear from our consumers, and we appreciate the time you have taken to contact us.
We are pleased to offer our consumers the opportunity to visit our websites in certain countries. These sites offer product information as well as Contact Us sections for you to send inquiries. To contact the United Kingdon please send your inquiry to crc@medgb.jnj.com.
Thank you again for contacting Johnson & Johnson in the United States.
011843334B
So I’ve now forwarded the original question to the email address I’ve been given.
Hello,
I’ve been trying to find an email contact address for you to no avail, but have now been given your email address by one of the US offices.
I have what I hope will be a simple question for you - there has recently been an issue raised here in the UK concerning Benzene in Soft Drinks. This is apparently caused by a reaction between Citric Acid and Sodium Benzoate. I note that Johnson’s Junior Shampoo contains the same ingredients. Can you tell me how much benzene is present in this shampoo as a consequence, and what is a safe level for Shampoo.
The full text of the conversation concerning this question has been published at http://trulyresponsible.org should you wish to see what has already been sent to me.
Thanks
Simon
——————————————————————-
Simon Warrick
trulyresponsible.orgtrulyresponsible.org is a voluntary organisation of consumers
that regularly asks questions of suppliers of goods to gain a
greater understanding of the life cycle of products.the information discovered may be published in full at
http://trulyresponsible.org