What you can do

Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of ShopSmart, has urged the National Organic Program to raise standards for personal-care items labeled organic. Until then, here's what you can do.

Look for the USDA Organic certification seal

Just 5 percent or less of the product can contain synthetics, and they must be on the government's approved list.

Check ingredients

Be on the lookout for the number of nonorganic ingredients and the word "fragrance," which might indicate the product contains phthalates, a family of chemicals often found in fragrances that might pose health risks.

Speak up

Tell manufacturers and the government that all organic personal-care products should meet the same standards as organic foods. For more info, go to www.USDA.gov and search for the National Organic Program.