The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed new regulations requiring cosmetic companies to take additional steps to ensure their products containing talc are free from asbestos. This move, announced Thursday, follows a congressional mandate aimed at bolstering consumer confidence in the safety of talc-based cosmetics, including baby powder and personal care items.
The proposal comes after years of legal battles involving Johnson & Johnson and other companies, which have faced lawsuits alleging that talc-based products, such as baby powder, may be linked to cancer. However, scientific research on the connection between talc and cancer has produced mixed results. The potential risk has been recognized for decades due to the mineral’s mining process, as talc is often found near asbestos deposits, raising concerns about cross-contamination.
Despite these concerns, recent FDA-sponsored testing of over 150 cosmetic samples since 2021 found no trace of asbestos, suggesting that current products may be safe. The FDA emphasized that these results were negative, but the ongoing concerns prompted Congress to pass a law in 2023 requiring the agency to establish new testing standards for asbestos in talc-containing products.
Dr. Linda Katz, director of the FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors, stated that the agency has “carefully considered the scientific evidence” surrounding asbestos detection and believes the proposed testing methods will ensure the safety of these products. She highlighted that the new standards are designed to provide consumers with added assurance regarding product safety.
Despite the absence of definitive scientific proof linking talc to cancer, particularly ovarian cancer, lawsuits continue to plague companies like Johnson & Johnson. The company is facing claims that its talc-based products contributed to the development of ovarian cancer when used for feminine hygiene. In response, a J&J subsidiary has proposed an $8 billion settlement for tens of thousands of lawsuits, though the settlement has been contested by the U.S. Justice Department. Johnson & Johnson discontinued the use of talc in its baby powder in the U.S. in 2020 and internationally in 2023, though it maintains that its products are safe.
The American Cancer Society states that if there is any increased cancer risk due to talc, it is likely to be “very small,” acknowledging the difficulty in determining a clear link between talc and cancer, especially in the case of ovarian cancer, a relatively rare condition.
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