Cosmetic companies in the US will have to follow a new testing rule. Under the new federal rule proposed by the FDA, companies will have to take additional steps to ensure that any product containing talc is free from asbestos. On Thursday, this proposal of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has been approved by the US Congress.
The proposal aims to reassure consumers about the safety of makeup, baby powder and other personal care products. It comes after years of lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson and other companies alleging links between talc-based baby powder and cancer.
The Connection Between Talc and Cancer?
Despite the lawsuits, research has found mixed evidence of a possible link between talc and cancer, although the concern has been recognized for decades because of the way it is mined.
Talc is a mineral used to absorb moisture or improve the appearance, texture and colour of cosmetics. It is mined underground, sometimes near the toxic mineral asbestos. However, this risk of cross contamination has long been recognised by cosmetic companies.
Testing to Detect Asbestos in Talc
But recent FDA-sponsored testing has revealed no safety issues. According to the FDA, laboratory analysis of more than 150 cosmetic samples since 2021 has come back negative for asbestos. Still, concerns about the risk prompted Congress to pass a 2023 law requiring the FDA to issue new industry standards for asbestos testing.
Dr. Linda Katz, director of the FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors, said in a statement that the agency has carefully considered the scientific evidence and complex policy issues associated with detecting and identifying asbestos in talc and talc-containing cosmetic products. Katz said, ‘We believe the proposed testing technique is suitable for detecting asbestos, which can help ensure the safety of talc-containing cosmetic products.’
J&J’s baby powder accused of cancer risk
A long-running lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson (J&J) alleges that the company’s talc baby powder can cause ovarian cancer in women. A J&J subsidiary has proposed paying nearly $8 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits. As part of the deal, the subsidiary would declare bankruptcy, though that proposal has been challenged in court by the Justice Department.
J&J removed talc from its baby powder in the US market in 2020 and then internationally in 2023. The company says it stands by the safety of its products. However, it is difficult to determine the root cause of cancer, especially in cases of ovarian cancer, which is the rarest form of cancer.
