Petition against cosmetic talc

Cancer Petition Coalition submitted a citizen petition to FDA May 13 seeking a warning on cosmetic talc powder products regarding link to ovarian cancer, the group announces May 19. Group additionally requests a public hearing to air evidence showing that genital application of talc can result in translocation to the ovary; coalition cites studies documenting increased risks of ovarian cancer by 30% to 60% from dusting genitals with talc power. Request reiterates a 1994 citizen petition denied by FDA seeking warning labels on talc powder. New petition stresses mortality of ovarian cancer for women over 65 has "escalated dramatically since 1975," making ovarian cancer the fourth most common fatal cancer in women. FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach "has failed to mandate a cancer warning label on talc powder, let alone ban its continued use," despite consistent reports of a correlation between talc powder and ovarian cancer, coalition says. The Environmental Working Group submitted a petition to FDA in 2004 asking the agency to investigate the safety of talc, among other cosmetic ingredients, but the request was denied (1"The Rose Sheet" Oct. 17, 2005, p. 4)...