Has baby powder got asbestos?
The FDA found asbestos in J&J's Baby Powder as recently as 2019, and researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital found it as early as 1976 when examining 19 samples of American talcum powder products. Mount Sinai researchers found asbestos in 10 samples, with the asbestos content ranging from 2% to 20%.
Today, talc products continue to test positive for asbestos fibers. Independent testing completed by The Environmental Working Group (EWG) in 2020 found 15% of the talc cosmetics sampled contained asbestos fibers. As a result, workers and consumers continue to be at risk for asbestos exposure and related diseases.
Cosmetic talcum powder products have been used for decades. The inhalation of talc may cause lung fibrosis in the form of granulomatose nodules called talcosis. Exposure to talc has also been suggested as a causative factor in the development of ovarian carcinomas, gynecological tumors, and mesothelioma.
“Our position on the safety of our cosmetic talc remains unchanged,” the company said. “We stand firmly behind decades of independent scientific analysis by medical experts around the world that confirm that talc-based Johnson's baby powder is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer.”
"Our position on the safety of our cosmetic talc remains unchanged," J&J said. "We stand firmly behind the decades of independent scientific analysis by medical experts around the world that confirms talc-based Johnson's Baby Powder is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer."
There's no foolproof way to know if the talc in a product is truly asbestos-free without extensive testing of the individual product. Consumers must look at the product label to see if it contains talc and avoid it if it does. Certain cosmetic products and brands make talc-free makeup and cosmetics.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends against using baby powder since babies don't really need it (or most other lotions and oils, for that matter) and it can sometimes irritate their already-sensitive, delicate skin. The AAP also says that baby powder can be harmful to little ones if a lot is inhaled.
A Reuters investigation indicated that Shower to Shower contained asbestos in several samples in the 1970s and 1990s. Johnson & Johnson recalled a batch of their baby powder as recently as 2019 after a sample contained asbestos. According to the National Cancer Institute, asbestos exposure can cause ovarian cancer.
Testing and purification processes can remove asbestos fibers from talc. However, in the United States, there are limited cosmetic talc regulations. As a result, many asbestos-contaminated, talc-based products continue to reach consumers.
There is no safe amount of asbestos exposure. Even one-time asbestos exposure can lead to asbestos-related diseases such as pleural thickening, lung cancer or mesothelioma.
When did baby powder stop using talc?
In 2016, more than 1,000 women in the United States sued Johnson & Johnson for covering up the possible cancer risk associated with its baby powder. The company stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the United States and Canada in 2020 and has said it will stop all talc sales worldwide by 2023.
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Commercial brands that use arrowroot starch blends include:
- Ora's Amazing Herbal Baby Powder.
- Ora's Amazing Herbal Pure and Simple Body Powder.
- Bee All Natural Organic Baby Powder.
Aug 11 (Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ. N) will stop selling talc-based baby powder globally in 2023, the drugmaker said on Thursday, more than two years after it ended U.S. sales of a product that drew thousands of consumer safety lawsuits.
Does JOHNSON'S® baby powder cause cancer? No we do not cause cancer, we firmly believe that JOHNSON'S® baby powder is safe to use. Decades of safety reviews by independent researchers and scientists have shown that cosmetic talc is safe to use with no proven causal link to cancer.
“Our position on the safety of our cosmetic talc remains unchanged,” the statement said. “We stand firmly behind the decades of independent scientific analysis by medical experts around the world that confirms talc-based Johnson's Baby Powder is safe, and does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer.”
Some examples of healthy alternatives to baby powder include any moisture-absorbing powders that contain cornstarch, baking soda, tapioca starch, arrowroot starch, kaolin clay, rice starch, and oat flour blends.
“Johnson & Johnson's decision to shift away from talcum powder to an 'all cornstarch-based baby powder portfolio' will align with the ongoing demand for 'natural' formulations and reassure consumers that the firm is addressing their concerns—though Johnson & Johnson maintains that its original formulation is safe.”
Asbestos has also been used in a wide range of manufactured goods, mostly in building materials (roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper products, and asbestos cement products), friction products (automobile clutch, brake, and transmission parts), heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets, and coatings.
However, talcum powder is still sold in stores, as it is a common ingredient in cosmetics. While talcum powder is studied extensively, studies have revealed mixed results and are somewhat inconclusive in regard to talcum powder causing cancer.
Some talc may contain the known carcinogen asbestos, therefore it should be avoided in powders and other personal care products, unless it is known to be asbestos-free.
Is Johnson's cornstarch baby powder safe?
Cornstarch, like talcum powder, can cause respiratory problems even in small amounts. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, if inhaled cornstarch powder can be dangerous. Inhaled cornstarch powder can damage a baby's growing lungs.
JOHNSON'S® Baby Powder, made from cosmetic talc, has been a staple of baby care rituals and adult skin care and makeup routines worldwide for over a century.
Adding a little boost of powder to your underarms can go a long way. Try patting talcum or baby powder under your arms after applying your deodorant or if you start to feel particularly sweaty throughout the day. It will help to soak up the sweat and prevent odor.
Manufacturers continue to maintain that their talc-containing products – such as Shower to Shower and J&J's iconic Baby Powder — are perfectly safe for their intended purpose, but several juries have ruled that consumers were not properly warned about potential health risks, particularly when the powder is applied near ...
In May of 2020, Johnson & Johnson quietly announced that it would stop selling all talc-based products—including Shower to Shower—in the United States. It cited the reason it would halt sales of one of its most important legacy products as a lack of demand.