It's time to get toxic chemicals out of all cosmetics, not just baby powder. With Johnson & Johnson planning to end the sale of talc-based baby powders -- which can be contaminated with asbestos -- in the United States and Canada, we're calling on L'Oréal to follow suit and stop using talc in its makeup and other personal care products. ADD YOUR NAME:
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Anonymous,
You should be able to expect that a cosmetic or personal care product sold in stores is safe for use.
But that's not always the case. Many powder-based cosmetic products contain talc, which can be contaminated with asbestos -- a known carcinogen.[1]
Johnson & Johnson just announced it would stop selling talc-based baby powders in North America -- a major step in the right direction when it comes to making consumer products toxic-free.[2] But there's still more to be done.
As another major personal care products company, L'Oréal should follow Johnson & Johnson's lead and get talc out of its products. Add your name today.
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It's common sense: Our personal care products shouldn't come with undue risks to our health. But as it turns out, talc and asbestos are often found near each other in nature. So when we mine talc, sometimes we get a little asbestos with it.[3]
This asbestos can make it into cosmetic products, with disastrous consequences. Thousands of lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson by individuals who allege that the company's baby powder caused their cancer.[4] Medical experts say that even short-term asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma decades later.[5]
We applaud Johnson & Johnson for its recent move to end sales of its talc-based baby powder -- consumers shouldn't have to worry that the products we use on ourselves and our children might cause cancer. Now it's L'Oréal's turn to take action. Tell L'Oréal: Talc-based products simply aren't worth the risks to public health.
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Even though the federal government itself says there is no safe level of exposure for any type of asbestos fiber, cosmetic products (including those containing talc) don't require pre-market approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).[6,7] So we count on the companies that produce and sell these products to ensure they are safe.
But companies, including Johnson & Johnson, have known about the link between talc and asbestos for decades, and while some have stopped using talc as an ingredient, many haven't.[8] Therefore, several talc-containing products -- such as eye shadow and baby powder -- are still for sale on store shelves.
That's where L'Oréal comes in: If another multinational cosmetics giant commits to making its products safe and talc-free, it could help shift the industry. We're calling on L'Oréal to protect the health of its customers and get talc out of its products. Add your name today.
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Thank you,
Faye Park
President
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1. Tiffany Hsu and Roni Caryn Rabin, "Johnson & Johnson to End Talc-Based Baby Powder Sales in North America," The New York Times, May 19, 2020.
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2. Tiffany Hsu and Roni Caryn Rabin, "Johnson & Johnson to End Talc-Based Baby Powder Sales in North America," The New York Times, May 19, 2020.
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3. Tiffany Hsu and Roni Caryn Rabin, "Johnson & Johnson to End Talc-Based Baby Powder Sales in North America," The New York Times, May 19, 2020.
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4. Roni Caryn Rabin and Tiffany Hsu, "Johnson & Johnson Feared Baby Powder's Possible Asbestos Link for Years," The New York Times, December 14, 2018.
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5. "Asbestos," United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration, accessed May 22, 2020.
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6. "Asbestos," United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration, accessed May 22, 2020.
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7. "Cosmetics Q&A: Why are cosmetics not FDA-approved?" U.S. Food and Drug Administration, updated February 22, 2018.
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8. Tiffany Hsu and Roni Caryn Rabin, "Johnson & Johnson to End Talc-Based Baby Powder Sales in North America," The New York Times, May 19, 2020.
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