For decades manufacturers of talc products were aware of possible contamination
of asbestos, and much like the asbestos industry, the danger was hidden
and ignored.
Not all talc is contaminated with asbestos, but talc is a mineral that
like asbestos, is mined from the earth. The problem lies in that many
places where talc is found, asbestos resides right along side it.
Talc is a widely used mineral with a wide variety of applications. The
soft powder absorbs moisture, prevents friction, is highly resistant to
heat and electricity, and is used as a filler material in everything from
food and pharmaceuticals, to cosmetics, paint and baby powder.
This past April, the first ever verdict against a talc company was found
for causing our client,
Judith Winkel’s mesothelioma. Judith used the women’s hygiene powder Cashmere Bouquet
manufactured by Colgate Palmolive, daily over the course of many years.
Colgate Palmolive now faces 23 lawsuits throughout the U.S. but continues
to deny liability. It isn’t just Colgate Palmolive, Johnson &
Johnson is currently facing hundreds of lawsuits alleging that ovarian
cancer was caused by their talc products.
Although the FDA is tasked for regulating cosmetics, the cosmetic manufacturers
do not need to prove their products are safe before they are sold. It’s
up to the FDA to discover the danger and then remove products from shelves.
FairWarning’s report shows a difficult job tasked to the FDA and their attempts
at regulating asbestos in talc products. It appears that over the years
many attempts were made to further test products but met roadblocks and
were ultimately scrapped.
Read the full report
here.