J. Soc. Cosmet. Chem. 25 563-575 (1974) ¸ 1974 Society of Cosmetic Chemists of Great Britain A survey of microbiological contamination in cosmetics and toiletries in the U.K. (97 BASIL JARVIS t, ALAN J. REYNOLDS, ANNETTE C. RHODES? and MICHAEL ARMSTRONG* Synopsis--One hundred and seventy-two toiletry and cosmetic items purchased in 1971 from retail outlets throughout England and Wales were examined microbiologically. Viable MICRO- ORGANISMS were not recovered from over 50 •o of the items tested and about 90 % contained fewer than 1000 organisms g-•. 75 •o of all POWDER PREPARATIONS tested did not contain viable SPORES of ANAEROBIC BACTERIA and none contained more than 300 spores of anaerobic bacteria g-L Of the anaerobes isolated, none was identified as Clostridium tetani. Coliform bacteria were not detected in any preparation of toothpaste or lipstick examined. Comparison of counts from the top and bottom ends of metal foil tubed products showed almost identical counts in most cases, but in two instances significantly higher counts were observed in the top (nozzle end) sample. Further analyses were performed on six or twelve replicate items of a single brand of seven product types to check the inter-sample variation in count. The results obtained confirmed the overall level of colony count observed previously for these products in some instances marked inter-sample variation in count was seen. INTRODUCTION Although many cosmetic, toiletry and pharmaceutical preparations contain preservatives (1-4) microbiological spoilage can still occur (5, 6). * National College of Food Technology, University of Reading, St. George's Avenue, Wey- bridge. •' Present address: British Food Manufacturing Industries Research Association, Randalls Road, Leatherhead, Surrey. 563

564 JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS In some instances microorganisms in cosmetic preparations, whether present initially or transferred to the product by the user, have been implicated as the aetiological agents of disease. Wilson and co-workers (7, 8) have demonstrated that eye cosmetics may serve as a possible vector in trans- mission and persistence of microorganisms in clinical infections of the eye. An outbreak of tetanus in babies has been attributed to the use of talcum powder contaminated with Clostridium tetani (9). Other examples of the contamination of non-sterile drugs and cosmetics are given by Bruch (10, 11). In 1967 the Toilet Preparation Federation and the Society of Cosmetic Chemists of Great Britain established a Select Committee to report on matters relating inter alia to the quality and safety of cosmetic preparations. One aspect of the work of this committee was to advise on the desirability for the establishment of microbiological standards for such products (12). Although many manufacturers have data on the microbiological quality of products immediately post manufacture, such information is not generally available. Furthermore, it may bear only a superficial relationship to the microbial quality of the products as purchased by the user. The present investigation was undertaken in 1971 at the instigation of the S½1½ct Com- mittee to assess the incidence of contamination in a restricted range of cosmetic and toilctry preparations on sa1½ to the general public. MATERIALS AND METHODS Provision of cosmetics Products were purchased by representatives of the Toilet Preparations Federation in six areas of England and Wales. Two units (one of large size and one of small size whenever possible) were taken for each product from a large and a small retail outlet respectively. In some cases, additional items were provided for analysis. In total 172 cosmetic items were examined. Further items of selected products were purchased locally to investigate the inter-sample variation in counts. Sampling of products The outside surfaces of all containers were swabbed with 70•o v/v ethanol before opening.