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Cocamide DEA

كوكاميد ثنائي إيثانول أمين

Surfactant · INCI: Cocamide DEA

The verdict

A foam booster with a real carcinogenicity flag — many brands avoid it.

What it is

A coconut-derived foam booster and thickener.

WTF fact

A foam/viscosity booster with a genuine concern: it's a diethanolamine (DEA) compound that can form nitrosamines, and IARC classifies cocamide DEA as possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B); it's a California Prop 65-listed substance. Many brands have moved away from DEA surfactants. Worth flagging.

Evidence & status

IARC carcinogen group

group_2b

EU status

Not regulated under Reg (EC) 1223/2009 — general cleansing use; CIR-reviewed.

US · FDA status

surfactant; CIR-reviewed

Halal status: halal

Often coconut/palm-derived; halal — confirm no animal-derived fatty acids if strict.

Primary source

Cocamide DEA — not restricted under EU Cosmetics Regulation (general cleansing use); CIR review supports cosmetic safety.

Evidence, not medical advice. You decide.

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