Breast cancer patient Kate Follington shows CBC News reporter Lisa Johnson some of the makeup products she was given. (CBC)

The B.C. Cancer Agency says the cosmetics that are being given out to patients are safe, despite criticism that some of the products contain a class of ingredients linked to breast cancer.

The agency sponsors the Look Good Feel Better Program, which gives cosmetic makeup packages to cancer survivors to help them deal with the physical and emotional effects of chemotherapy.

Breast cancer patient Kate Follington questioned the program after hearing the cosmetics contain parabens. Some groups like the David Suzuki Foundation are warning people to avoid them because of studies showing possible links between parabens and breast cancer.

Richard Gallagher, head of the Cancer Control Research Program at the B.C. Cancer Agency says, based on the weight of evidence from animal and human studies, parabens aren't carcinogenic.

"Each agency is going to have slightly different points of view," Gallagher told CBC News. "I'm happy to see research pursued. At the present time, so far as we know, parabens are safe in the cosmetic application."

The program is run by an industry group called the Canadian Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrance Association, which also says regulators have reviewed the use of parabens and believe they are safe.

Lindsay Coulter of the Suzuki Foundation says parabens are considered weak hormone disruptors, and for that reason consumers should look for products that don't have use them as preservatives.

"There's definitely more research that needs to be done, but for now, as a precautionary approach, we'd like to have them out of our products and have stronger regulations," said Coulter.

Parabens are used for their bacterial and fungicidal properties to preserve cosmetics, shampoos, moisturizers, shaving gels, personal lubricants, topical pharmaceuticals, and toothpastes and as well as food additives.