Did you know that an ingredient in everyday cosmetic products; talc, can lead to cancer? Asbestos, a known carcinogen, can be found in talcum powder-based products because both minerals co-exist together in the ground and cannot be separated. Talc-based products include lipstick, mascara, face powder, baby powder, blush, eyeshadow, foundation, and even children's makeup.
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) knew for decades that asbestos fibers lurked in its baby powder. For the sake of profit, J&J utilized weak testing methods slightly better than a high school microscope – ensuring that no asbestos would be revealed. The company continues to profit at the expense of consumers – in 2018 J&J raked in over $15 billion.
The FDA is holding a public meeting in February to set standards for testing asbestos in talc. The FDA is considering requiring companies to use more rigorous testing – though there's nothing stopping companies from using these testing methods now. The FDA has already found asbestos in talc and product recalls have occurred globally; the FDA must act swiftly to protect human health.
Demand FDA to require the cosmetic industry to use the most sensitive state-of-the-art methods to test for asbestos in cosmetics and make testing results available to the public!
