# How We Ensure Fairy Products Are Safe for Consumers > Learn how Fairy's 500+ scientists test every ingredient and product through three layers of safety, and get answers to your top safety questions. ## Page Information - **Site**: fairy - **Page ID**: about/how-we-ensure-fairy-products-are-safe - **URL**: https://fairy-dish.co.uk/about/how-we-ensure-fairy-products-are-safe - **Locale**: en_GB ## Content How we ensure Fairy products are safe for consumers At Fairy, your safety is our highest priority. Read our Safety Promise here [Link to Article #1 “Fairy‘s Safety Promise“]. Every product we make is the result of a meticulous, multi-stage safety process, overseen by our team of more than 500 scientists and experts. This article explains the science we use, the rigorous steps we take, and answers your most specific questions. The scientific foundation: understanding hazard vs. risk Our entire safety process is built on the fundamental scientific principle that forms the basis for all modern safety assessments worldwide: the distinction between a “hazard” and a “risk.” Hazard: The intrinsic property of a substance to potentially cause a harmful effect. Exposure: The amount, duration and route of contact with a substance under real-world conditions. Risk: The likelihood that a harmful effect will actually occur, based on both the hazard and the specific exposure. This relationship is captured in a simple equation: Risk = Hazard x Exposure Think of apples: The seeds contain a compound that can release cyanide (a hazard). However, the risk of harm from eating an apple is negligible, because the exposure from accidentally swallowing a few seeds is incredibly small. Our three layers of safety testing We have a rigorous system of checks that we think of as three layers of safety. Layer 1: a four-step safety assessment for every ingredient Before any ingredient is considered for a Fairy product, it must pass the trusted four-step risk assessment process originally developed by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences ( National Research Council, National Academy Press, 1983 ) and updated by the U.S. Environmental Agency in 2009: Science And Decisions: Advancing Risk Assessment (NAS Final Report) | IRIS | US EPA . This methodology is adopted by all experts in this field. The process involves: 1. A thorough review of the science: We begin by collecting all available safety information about an ingredient, including our own testing, published studies, public databases, and information from our suppliers. We check for possible health effects (such as skin or eye irritation, allergies, toxicity, and long-term effects on reproduction or the nervous system) and determine safe exposure levels. 2. The identification of potential hazards : While most ingredients have a long history of safe use, new ingredients or new ways of using them require extra care to be taken. Our scientists identify any potential hazards and make sure any testing required by government authorities is completed before the ingredient is used in a product. 3 The assessment of exposure : Understanding how consumers use our products is critical. We study your real-life habits to calculate how much of each ingredient consumers you could be exposed to during normal use. 4 The evaluation of risk : By combining the ingredients’ properties with expected exposure, our experts assess the overall risk. We then apply a large safety margin – typically 100 to 1,000 times below the level that is considered safe. In addition, we follow industry guidance for specific groups of ingredients like enzymes and perfumes [Link to Article #4 - “How We Ensure The Perfumes Used in Fairy Products Are Safe“]. Only ingredients that pass all these checks can move to the next stage. Layer 2: Where relevant we additionally test the final product (formula and packaging) This multi-faceted process considers: Intended and foreseeable use: we evaluate how the product is designed to be used, as well as any ways it might reasonably be used by consumers. Accidental exposure: we also consider the possibility of unintentional contact with the product. Furthermore, we conduct a physical hazard assessment of the packaging to ensure it meets local regulations and provides appropriate protection for the product. Layer 3: We never stop monitoring Our scientists constantly monitor and review new scientific information. If anything changes that could impact safety (such as updated information on an ingredient’s intrinsic properties or changes in product use) we immediately reassess the risk to ensure every Fairy product continues to meet our high safety standards. ### Frequently Asked Questions #### Are Fairy dishwashing tablets toxic? No. Our dishwashing tablets are safe when used as intended and stored safely away from children and pets. Fairy is fully dedicated to designing and manufacturing highly effective dishwasher tablets that you can use daily, safely. #### Are Fairy dishwashing tablets safe? Yes, when used as intended and stored safely away from children and pets. Consumer safety is Fairy’s absolute highest priority. Every ingredient and finished product formula undergoes a rigorous scientific safety screening and testing process before the product reaches your home. #### Can dishwashing pods / capsules leave toxic residues on my dishes? No. The chemistry of our formulations is completely designed to be safe when used as directed. The chemistries we use have been used for a long time; the technologies have very well-known safety profiles. Our products do not leave harmful residues on dishes. #### Can Fairy dishwashing tablets cause “leaky gut” or gut inflammation? No. This myth has been debunked by independent experts at Michigan State University’s Center for Research on Ingredient Safety as misinformation. The claims are based on a misinterpretation of a lab study ( Ogular et al., 2023, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology ), which used a model that cannot demonstrate inflammation in a living person. Specifically, the study used: Concentrations up to 300 times higher than any consumer would ever be exposed to. Isolated cancer cells, not immune cells in people. A model that cannot demonstrate inflammation in a living person. #### Do Fairy products contain endocrine / hormone disruptors? Safety is our number one priority and none of our products have endocrine disrupting effects. #### Can Fairy products cause cancer? No, Fairy products, when used as intended, do not pose a risk of causing cancer. #### Do Fairy products contain carcinogens? Safety is our number one priority and no Fairy products have carcinogenic effects. #### Can Fairy products impact fertility? No, Fairy products, when used as intended, do not pose a risk of impacting fertility. #### Do Fairy products contain reprotoxic ingredients? Safety is our number one priority and none of our products have reprotoxic effects. #### Do Fairy products contain formaldehyde? We do not add formaldehyde intentionally. #### Do Fairy products contain phthalates? No. Fairy products do not contain phthalates. #### Do Fairy products contain parabens? No, Fairy products do not contain parabens. #### Do Fairy products contain Benzotriazole (BTA)? No, Fairy products do not contain Benzotriazole.