Cocamide MEA
A coconut-derived fatty acid amide used as a foam booster and thickener in shampoos and washes. It is a recognized, if uncommon, contact sensitizer, and because it belongs to the same ethanolamine family reviewed alongside cocamide DEA, formulators are advised to keep it free of nitrosamine-forming contaminants; well-made products with controlled impurity levels are considered acceptable for rinse-off use.
Worth knowing
- Known contact sensitizer for some
CIR recommends manufacturers limit free ethanolamine and nitrosating-agent contamination in ethanolamide surfactants; not itself an EU-restricted substance but reviewed as part of the ethanolamine group.
Gentler alternatives
Products with Cocamide MEA
References
Cosmetic information for general education, not medical advice. Concern is graded on cited evidence, never on hazard-score lists. See how we score.