FDA Issues Urgent Warning Over Baby Powder Sold on Amazon That Contains Cancer-Causing Ingredients
More than a thousand bottles of baby powder sold on Amazon are being recalled over fears they contain asbestos.
Routine testing found the carcinogenic substance in Dynacare’s Baby Powder 4875, which is commonly used in babies to prevent and treat diaper rash.
A total of 1,500 bottles, priced at $47 each, sold since March of this year, have been recalled in 12 states, including Pennsylvania, Florida and Illinois.
To date, no illnesses or side effects have been reported. Customers are urged to immediately stop using the powder and return it to the seller for a full refund.
Dynacare baby powder sold on Amazon is being recalled over fears it could be contaminated with asbestos
The FDA, which discovered the contamination, announced the recall in a message on its website Thursday.
It said 62 cases of the bottles – with 24 14oz bottles per case – had been recalled after being distributed by retailers.
The bottles have a best before date of December 2026 and a batch number B051, which is printed on the bottom of the bottles.
Dynacare baby powder contains talc, which is mined and ground into a water-absorbent powder.
Talc deposits are often found near asbestos deposits. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral.
The FDA stated in its recall notice that if talc mining sites are not carefully selected or if no effort is made to purify the talc after it is mined, the talc may be contaminated with asbestos.
After using the powder at home, small asbestos particles may be released into the air which can then be inhaled by the adult using the powder or by the child.
These can then become trapped in the lung tissue, causing inflammation and irritation of the tissue, which triggers harmful mutations in nearby cells.
Over time, this can cause cancers, such as lung cancer and mesothelioma, a form of cancer that affects the lung lining and is linked to asbestos exposure.
The bottom of the bottles containing the recalled powder has the lot number B051 and the expiration date is December 2026 (pictured above)
Bottles being recalled have the lot number B051 on the outside of their retail box
The recall is eerily reminiscent of Johnson & Johnson’s own legal troubles after its baby powder was found to contain asbestos and cause cancer.
The company is offering an $8 billion settlement to more than 50,000 people who filed lawsuits over the reported contamination.
The company has already lost a number of lawsuits, including a $4.5 million settlement awarded to the family of Theresa Garcia, a mother of six who died at age 53 from a form of cancer linked to asbestos after using the powder for decades.
Johnson & Johnson has since stopped producing talc-based baby powder and replaced it with a cornstarch-based powder.
In the recall, the FDA said, “Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral often found near talc, an ingredient in many cosmetic products.
However, asbestos is a known carcinogen and its health risks are well documented.
‘If talc mine sites are not carefully selected or measures are not taken to adequately purify the talc ore, the talc can become contaminated with asbestos.’
The recalled bottles were delivered on March 11 to retailers in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Florida, Washington and Wisconsin.