Johnson & Johnson has announced that it is implementing a voluntary recall of its Johnson's Baby Powder in the US due to low levels of asbestos contamination.
Johnson & Johnson decided on a recall of baby powder bottles produced and shipped in the US last year following a US Food and Drug Administration test which discovered levels of chrysotile asbestos contamination in samples from a bottle purchased online.
The company is advising consumers with bottle of Johnson's Baby Powder from lot #22318RB to stop using the product and contact the company for a refund. According to the company, the levels of asbestos contamination were at most 0.00002%.
Johnson & Johnson pointed out that it cannot confirm whether there was a cross-contamination, whether the sample came from a bottle with an intact seal or whether the tested product is authentic at the investigation's early stage.
In its announcement, the company claimed that it "has immediately initiated a rigorous, thorough investigation into this matter, and is working with the FDA to determine the integrity of the tested sample, and the validity of the test results."
As talc is a basic ingredient in various cosmetic products, such as baby powder and blush, the FDA has been conducting studies on the potential contamination of talc with asbestos. In March, the FDA discovered asbestos in certain cosmetic products sold by Claire's and Justice retailers.
The FDA said: "Both talc and asbestos are naturally occurring minerals that may be found in close proximity in the earth. Unlike talc, however, asbestos is a known carcinogen. There is the potential for contamination of talc with asbestos and therefore, it is important to select talc mining sites carefully and take steps to test the ore sufficiently."
According to Johnson & Johnson, its decision to recall the products is "out of an abundance of caution."
