FDA Final Report: Asbestos Detected In 17% Of Talc-Containing Cosmetics, Including Products Previously Under Suspicion

10 Mar 2020

NGOs including the Environmental Working Group maintain that the FDA’s testing results released on 9 March, showing traces of asbestos in nine out of 52 talc-containing cosmetics, signal a need for congressional action to tighten industry oversight. The FDA says the findings are not necessarily representative of the overall marketplace, with further talc testing planned for 2020.

Chrysotile fibers (asbestos variety) seen on the fluorescent screen of a transmission electron microscope (TEM), x30 000 magnification. Environmental laboratory specialised in asbestos

Nine out of 52 talc-containing powder cosmetic products tested positive for asbestos contamination in testing the US Food and Drug Administration commissioned from Lanham, MD-based AMA Analytical Services, Inc., according to a final report published on 9 March.

The Environmental Working Group responded to the announcement by calling for federal legislation to address the problem.