FDA proposes testing to detect asbestos in talc cosmetics – NBC New York

Under a federal regulation proposed Thursday, cosmetics companies would be required to take additional measures to ensure that all products containing talc are free of asbestos.

The Food and Drug Administration’s proposal, mandated by Congress, is intended to reassure consumers about the safety of makeup, baby powder and other personal care products.

It follows years of lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson and other companies over alleged links between talc-based baby powder and cancer.

Despite the lawsuits, research has found mixed evidence of a possible link between cancer and talc, although the possibility has been recognized for decades because of the way talc is broken down.

Talc is a mineral used to absorb moisture or improve the texture, feel and color of cosmetics. It is mined from underground deposits sometimes located near the toxic mineral asbestos. The risk of cross-contamination has long been recognized by cosmetics companies.

But recent FDA-sponsored testing has revealed no safety problems. According to the FDA, laboratory analyzes of more than 150 cosmetic samples have been negative for asbestos since 2021.

Still, concerns about the risk prompted Congress to pass a 2023 law requiring the FDA to publish new industry standards for asbestos testing.

Dr. Linda Katz, the director of the FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors, said in a statement that the agency “has carefully reviewed the scientific evidence and complex policy issues surrounding the detection and identification of asbestos in talc and talc-containing cosmetic products.”

“We believe that the proposed testing techniques are appropriate methods for detecting asbestos to ensure the safety of cosmetic products containing talc,” Katz said.

The long-running lawsuit against J&J alleges that the company’s talcum baby powder caused women to develop ovarian cancer when used for feminine hygiene.

A J&J subsidiary has proposed paying about $8 billion to settle tens of thousands of lawsuits. Under the agreement, the subsidiary would file for bankruptcy, although that proposal was challenged in court by the Justice Department.

J&J removed talc from its baby powder in 2020 in the US market and then internationally in 2023. The company says it remains committed to the safety of its products.

Determining the root cause of cancer is difficult, especially for ovarian cancer, a relatively rare form of the disease. Even large studies involving thousands of women may not collect enough data to show a clear connection or to definitively rule one out. The American Cancer Society says an increased risk of cancer due to talc is “probably very small.”

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