After finding asbestos in multiple talc powders and cosmetics, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will take a closer look at asbestos testing for talc powders, in a hearing set for Tuesday, February 4th. Consumer advocates and U.S. lawmakers helped turn the hearing into a reality by calling for stricter safety regulations after asbestos was found in Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder.
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Johnson & Johnson has spoken out against the findings, defending the safety of its talc powder. The company has also said that lab tests it commissioned showed no asbestos in the powder — except for some they believe is due to contamination from an air conditioner in the lab.
Testing standards recommended by a panel of government experts will serve as the focus of the hearing, which will be the first of its kind since 1971. FDA officials will hear from the panel, then take comments from consumer advocates, testing experts and industry representatives.
The expert panel’s written report noted “long-recognized shortcomings in specificity and sensitivity” in the talc industry’s standard testing methods. The panel is also recommending that mineral particles small enough to be drawn into the lungs should be considered potentially harmful, as both asbestos and minerals that look like it can cause similar outcomes.
Johnson & Johnson is a well-known and trusted "baby friendly" brand, producing a range of baby products and feminine hygiene items. Unfortunately, J&J has failed the public trust yet again, and the lack of regulations relating to cosmetics is what helped them bury the dangers of one of its flagship products.
In February 2016, a jury found Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder contributed to a 62-year old woman’s ovarian cancer, awarding her $72 million in damages. In May 2016, another woman was awarded $55 million in damages after talc embedded in her ovaries was found to have contributed to her cancer. In July 2018, a jury awarded $4.69 billion to 22 women who alleged Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder caused their ovarian cancer. Internal documents presented at the trial showed that company officials knew for at least 30 years that asbestos had been found in the talc powders.