Breast Cancer Awareness Month

While looking at Salon I discovered a link to an organization http://www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org/

This is a project of Breast Cancer Action that calls for accountability by companies that use the pink ribbon campaign to promote sales of their products, many of which are linked to the disease itself. One example is Yoplait's "Save Lids to Save Lives." Yoplait yogurt is made with milk from cows treated with rBGH. Recent studies have shown a link between this growth hormone and an increased risk of breast, colon, and prostate cancer. Estee Lauder, which will donate $500,000 from it Pink Ribbon Collection, still uses chemicals such as parabens linked to breast cancer.

Before buying these pink products ask yourself these questions:

1. How much money from your purchase actually goes towards breast cancer?

2. What is the maximum amount that will be donated?

3. How much money was spent marketing the product?

4. How are the funds being raised?

5. To what breast cancer organization does the money go, and what types of programs does it support?

6. What is the company doing to assure that its products are not contributing to the breast cancer epidemic?

Contribute to a Cause, Not Cause-Marketers

"Far too many marketing campaigns exist for it to be possible to trace the threads of profit for each, and it’s difficult to verify whether a promotion is legitimate while you’re standing in the store. Make the best choice you can with the information you have. If you have trouble getting answers or if you feel that a promotion is questionable, write to the company responsible, consider buying a different product, and tell your friends"