The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a safety alert on September 6 2019 that urged customers not to use cosmetics from a line of cosmetic products after the federal agency found asbestos in at least four of the manufacturer’s products. The manufacturer responded by voluntarily recalling the talc-based cosmetic products.
About the Recalled Products
The recalled products were under the name Beauty Plus label. The products affected include bronzer, shimmer bronzer, beauty palette and matte blush. FDA samples showed the products had asbestos in them. The specific products affected were:
- Beauty Plus Global Inc. City Color Collection Matte Blush (Fuchsia), SKU #849136008807, Lot No. 1605020/PD-840
- Beauty Plus Global Inc. City Color Cosmetics Timeless Beauty Palette, SKU #849136012958, Lot No. 1510068/PD-C864R
- Beauty Plus Global Inc. City Color Bronzer (Sunset), SKU #849136016017, Lot No. 160634/PD-P712M
- Beauty Plus Global Inc. Beauty Plus Global Inc. City Color Shimmer Bronzer (Caramel), SKU #849136017106, Lot No. 1612112/PD-840
The recent recall is the second time this year that Beauty Plus has been subject to a voluntary recall. In May, the FDA warned consumers not to use Beauty Plus’ Global Effects Palette 2 or Claire’s JoJo Siwa Makeup Set. Both of the talc cosmetic products were found to have asbestos.
The FDA is completing ongoing testing of beauty products. Currently, there is no law that prohibits asbestos from being contained in cosmetic products.
Dangers of Asbestos
The dangers of asbestos have been well-documented over time. Asbestos was widely used prior to the 1980s in various products, including construction materials like drywall, joint compound, roof shingles, insulation and floor tiles. The federal government began to regulate this dangerous material once it was linked to various medical conditions as mesothelioma, asbestosis and respiratory problems. However, asbestos is still permitted in certain industries and can be dislodged when disturbed by demolition or renovation activities. When asbestos is inhaled, the smallest amount can potentially result in the development of cancer later in life. Mesothelioma and other fatal diseases often develop decades after the initial exposure to asbestos.
Approximately 15,000 Americans die from asbestos-related diseases each year, including mesothelioma and asbestosis. However, a 2018 study found that the annual fatality rate may be as high as 40,000 per year in the United States and 255,000 globally.
Due to the dangers associated with asbestos, more than 50 countries have banned asbestos, though it is still legal in some uses in the United States.
Asbestos and the Relationship to Talc Products
Talc and asbestos can form from the same parent rock. Talc deposits are contaminated with asbestos fibers in many regions. Therefore, products made with talc may contain dangerous asbestos. There is no safe trace amount of asbestos that a person can be exposed to.
In the summer of 2018, a St. Louis jury awarded $4.69 billion to 22 women and their families after finding Johnson & Johnson’s talc baby powder product was contaminated with asbestos and was responsible for the women developing ovarian cancer when they used the product for feminine hygiene.
Legal Action Regarding Talc and Asbestos Products
Lawmakers are seeking to make reforms that could address the problem of asbestos in cosmetic products. A Democratic Representative has introduced legislation that would require cosmetic manufacturers to plaster warnings on their cosmetic products that contained to asbestos.
Earlier FDA tests encouraged the House to conduct an oversight hearing into cosmetics contaminated by asbestos. According to testimony before the committee, thousands of talc-based products could be contaminated with asbestos.
