I am writing in response to Jill Friedbauer’s article “How to Choose Safe Consumer Products” (August 4, 2022).

Throughout the article, Friedbauer makes claims about the dangers of various household products and their ingredients yet not one of her claims is supported by any sort of citation or source. When sharing health information, it is imperative to provide credible sources so that readers can make informed decisions about their health and trust that what they are reading is being presented in good faith. Friedbauer lists no articles, books or websites, and cites no scientists, physicians or experts to back up the information that she presents. There is also no indication that the publication has done any fact-checking.

In a world where there is too much doubt cast on science, this type of unscientific reporting on health topics is dangerous and irresponsible. I encourage readers to visit websites like CDC.gov and cancer.gov to find information about the safety of consumer products, use credible sources such as peer-reviewed journals when seeking out scientific information, and consult with medical professionals, not health coaches, when making decisions about their health.

Kira Rynhold, medical student
New York