Think pink?

You may want to think twice.

Just in case you hadn’t noticed the ubiquitous displays of pink bath scrubbies, kitchen appliances, vacuums and beauty products, allow me to remind you that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And for loads of companies, a little pink ribbon equals big profits.

But how much actually goes to the charity in question? And do the products you’re buying actually contain known carcinogens?

Such are the questions posed by Think Before You Pink, a campaign launched in 2002 by the California-based Breast Cancer Action organization after its members raised concerns about pink-ribbon products.

And the products range from soup (Campbell’s) to nuts (the “I’m a Breast Cancer Support Nut” T-shirts from www.Caf?Press.com). Fashionistas can drop $58 on Coach’s charmed key fob, 20 percent of which goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Or they can sport any number of Ralph Lauren’s Pink Pony accessories, which range in price from $10 to $498. Cooks can whip up a cake in a pink Kitchen-Aid mixer; $50 of the $350 purchase price goes to Susan G. Komen for the Cure with a minimum donation of $1 million.

Feeling hungry? Eat Yoplait yogurt – the company will donate 10 cents for every pink lid sent in by consumers, with a minimum donation of $500,000. That’s a LOT of yogurt. Or, get to the heart (or the breast) of the matter with Bath & Body Works’ In Touch breast self-exam glove ($9, with $1 going to the American Breast Cancer Foundation)

In other words, there’s a lot of pink shopping to be done in the month of October. And some of the fundraisers are better than others. But Think Before You Pink has a different message: Do something besides shop for breast cancer.

“We just don’t endorse,” explained Mary DeLucco, the communications director for Breast Cancer Action. “There isn’t really that temptation.”

Instead, the organization urges consumers to ask six questions:

. How much money from your purchase actually goes toward breast cancer?

. What is the maximum amount that will be donated?

. How much money was spent marketing the product?

. How are the funds being raised?

. To what breast cancer organization does the money go, and what types of programs does it support?

. What is the company doing to assure that its products are not contributing to the breast cancer epidemic?

“If you ask the six questions, and you as an individual shopper are satisfied with the answers, go ahead and buy it,” DeLucco said.

To make matters even more confusing, many of the products that are marketed as breast cancer awareness fundraisers actually contain ingredients that are linked to breast cancer. Carmakers and cosmetics companies are of particular concern to BCA, as exhaust chemicals and skin-care ingredients such as phthalates or parabens have been linked to the disease. The organization calls these “pinkwashers.”

Would-be shoppers can take matters into their own hands by donating to a local cause. In Maine, there’s the state affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation (www.komenmaine.org), Maine Breast Cancer Coalition (www.mainebreastcancer.org) or the Pink Tulip Project, which benefits the Maine Cancer Foundation (www.mainecancer.org), to name a few.

But if you simply must shop – and who could blame you? – make sure to ask those six critical questions. If you’re satisfied with the answers, you’ll be in the pink, not seeing red.

Step into the roaring ’20s

October isn’t just Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it’s also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Tonight, Spruce Run will hold its first benefit ball – the best kind of costume party – at Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono. The gala theme will celebrate the 1920s with the tunes of pianist Clayton Smith and vocalist Darlene Mogul. A kissing booth, food, entertainment and costume contest also will highlight the evening. So break out your flapper dress and get ready to kick up your heels. All you fashionistas will love the door prize, too: a strand of pearls. Tickets cost $50 per person, “prohibited libations” available at the cash bar. For tickets and information, call 945-5102.

ShopGirl would love to hear from you! Send questions, comments or suggestions by e-mail to: kandresen@bangordailynews.net, by U.S. mail to Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329, or by fax to 941-9476. For exclusive online shopping tips, click on the ShopBlog icon on the bottom of the BDN homepage: bangordailynews.com.