Document vBoa9ZdVpjKKmQXypy6a20Ndw
cc: C. K. Xaabe J. K. Welter file J-2 - General
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Chicago flk7-2 - C. K. Howard Assoorch /151 - X. Hsynard Toronto Cocglaiat fej - IdAbility Clain of Smior Sabos
terch 18, 156*
Ve indeed feel badly that Hr. Sabos encountered a felii Irritation apparently free using our Joint cojpxxal. IT it is proven that Joint compounds did cause his problem, and that the Joint eeepouad *u cade toy CGC, this single ease mimi't got cause us to change the "ocn-IrritatiEVj" phrase printing for the entire IE and Canada. If Mr. Sabos got shin irritation free: our Joint compound it is not because our product is irritating, but slyly because be Is allergic
to it.
Over the last ter. years wfve gotten as estimated half dozen skin-irritatlen
eocplelRts (though none eppcrcntly as serious me Hr. Sabos'). There Is so
other product that I etui think of, outside of eosaetlcs or food, that constantly
cone is direct contact vith the chin as ouch as Joint cacpouada. The product
Is aa the hands of thousands of neehenies every hour of every day across the
nation. To give you aa idea of the mount of this product In daily contact
vith the aechanlcs there is an ererege of 627*000 lbs. cf dry eeepounds and
textures being used every vcorkinc day (200 per year} based on last years
productloo.
.
Thie history shows the product to be aa "non-irritating" as ary product could conceivably be vhen used toy the general public in contact vith the shin. Tou vlU always find ecaeone allergic to sanething, }far example, easy people are allergic to strawberries end breakout in a rash, but this does not man that strawberries are irritating. It singly aeons that if you're allergic to then, you erold contact vith then. Tht vould apply to our Joint oospounrls also*
Htqjr years ago vc encountered mry core akin irritation complaints when ve easufarture
and sold "hi^tt alkaline" Joint compounds. Sere, people vith sensitive chin were
sinply getting "burned" by the higher alkalinity of the product. We haven't sold
high alkaline Joint compounds in Canada since early 1957- Bcrvever eorpetitiv*
pamfacturars continued aching high iikv,rw. joist eerpounds long after ve did,
tcvl scoe are still on the nortet todey. The poesiMlity that
Ifebos
encountered his irritation frac a cccpcrtitiYe high '!t~n'1 product
be
isrestigstsd*
.
-
In suemry, there is no need to chance the present "non-irritating" piirace, hosed
on our lccg experience vith field performance of Joint compounds and lntiaote
knowledge of formula Ingredients. However, if our attorney's feel another phrase
would give Rare protection against future lawsuits and you feci the phrase vould
not "frighten'' our eeehanics and Inhibit salen, ve have no objection to a change. --
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