U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposes new testing rules to ensure cosmetics are asbestos-free
The Hindu
New FDA rule requires cosmetic companies to ensure talc products are asbestos-free, amid cancer concerns and lawsuits.
Cosmetic companies would have to take extra steps to ensure that any products containing talc are free of asbestos under a new proposed federal rule.
The proposal from the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday (December 27, 2024) and 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 alleging links between talc-based baby powder and cancer.
Despite the lawsuits, research has found mixed evidence of a potential link between cancer and talc, although the possibility has been recognised for decades because of how it is mined.
Talc is a mineral used to absorb moisture or improve the texture, feel and colour of cosmetics. It is mined from underground deposits that are sometimes located near the toxic mineral asbestos. The risk of cross contamination has long been recognised by cosmetic companies.
Also read:Why is talcum powder a threat?
But recent FDA-sponsored testing hasn't uncovered any safety issues. Since 2021, laboratory analysis of more than 150 cosmetic samples has come back negative for asbestos, according to the FDA.
