The team at Parker/Waichman was excellent in the handling of my claim, with Benita Rollis, my paralegal, being exceptional. I highly recommend this efficient, thorough, yet caring, legal establishment.
Rhonda Reid
3 years ago
As baby powder is facing recalls and lawsuits, attorney Jerry Parker, partner in the law firm Parker & Waichman LLP, answers some of the most popular questions: Is Talcum Powder (also known as baby power) safe to use? Do You Have Baby-Powder-Related Questions? Fill in the form below and Jerry will do his best to […]
As baby powder is facing recalls and lawsuits, attorney Jerry Parker, partner in the law firm Parker & Waichman LLP, answers some of the most popular questions: Is Talcum Powder (also known as baby power) safe to use?
Talcum powder can be used as baby powder and according to multiple studies, it may not be safe to use.
Since 1982 there’s been over 30 scientific papers published that indicate that talcum powder which actually contains talc as opposed to cornstarch can cause a significant increase in the risk of coming down with ovarian cancer. In addition if the talc happens to have asbestos in it it can also cause an individual to develop mesothelioma another really bad dangerous cancer generally focused in the lungs.
According to the scientists there’s a real serious risk of ovarian cancer and mesothelioma when you use health-based powders especially over a long period of time. Now the international agency for research on cancer states that tainted with asbestos is in fact carcinogenic to humans that agency is a division of the world health organization that same agency classifies perennial genital use of health-based baby powders as quote “possibly carcinogenic to humans”.
Now interestingly enough Johnson & Johnson does have a warning on the label of its baby power products that indicates that you should keep the baby powder away from the baby’s face in order to avoid the baby breathing in the talc dust but they don’t have a warning regarding ovarian cancer they don’t have a warning regarding mesothelioma.
Many of these traditionally talc based products powder products are now using cornstarch or baking soda instead of talcum powder in their baby products and other cosmetic powders such as deodorants and the American Cancer Society now lists talcum powder as a risk factor in developing ovarian cancer which is one of the deadliest cancers for women.
The World Health Organization classifies talk as possibly carcinogenic to humans even without asbestos and the world health organization as well as other authorities throughout the world recognize that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos.
Now over time there’s been some recalls for specific lots most recently October 2019 Johnson & Johnson recalled 33,000 bottles of baby powder because they found traces of asbestos in that lot and as we mentioned as of May 19 2020 Johnson & Johnson announced that they are discontinuing the sale of their talc based powders in the United States and Canada.
The FDA only regulates talc as a cosmetic ingredient the FDA expects the companies that manufacture any cosmetics containing talc to test their own talc for asbestos before they use it in a commercial product, make sure that their talc does not contain asbestos.
So when you ask does the FDA approve the product they really don’t they just regulate it to the extent that they’re expecting that the company using talc will make sure that they’re not using talc that contains asbestos.
Cosmetic products like talc do not require FDA approval. Under the food drug and cosmetic act cosmetic products and ingredients with the exception of color additives do not have to undergo any FDA review or approval before they go on the market however cosmetics must be properly labeled and they must be safe by use by the consumer when the consumer is using it as labeled or as customary with that product.
Interestingly the law does not require the cosmetic companies to share safety into information with the FDA regarding their cosmetic products. Many groups have called upon the FDA to require manufacturers of talc products to include a cancer warning on their talcum powder products they have not done so.
Johnson & Johnson has not done so however other top products do have warnings in a 2017 trial concerning Johnson & Johnson talc-based powders jurors saw labels from other products like Angel of Mine baby powder which is available in Dollar Tree stores and spring fresh powder which is available in Walmart had the following warnings frequent application of talc about it in the female genital area may increase the risk of ovarian cancer and that is on these private label products not on the Johnson & Johnson products.
The warning continued medical evidence suggests that women use talcum powder as a feminine hygiene product won a greater risk of developing ovarian cancer again that warning was on these two private label products not the Johnson & Johnson products Johnson & Johnson talc products had no similar warnings in fact the world health organization also known as WHO we’ve heard so much about WHO recently having to do with Covid 19, classifies talc as a possible carcinogenic two humans even without asbestos.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with and is suffering from ovarian cancer that you believe is the result of regular use of products containing talcum powder, it is imperative that you consult with an experienced and knowledgeable Talcum Powder Injury Lawyer at Parker Waichman LLP, right away in order to preserve and protect your rights to compensation.
A cancer diagnosis should not be taken lightly, so take steps today to obtain the compensation you need and deserve by calling 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529) to discuss your case.
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