Johnson & Johnson has voluntarily recalled its popular Johnson's Baby Powder.
The company announced on Friday that it is initiating the recall in the United States due to asbestos contamination.
Asbestos In Baby Powder
The company's announcement comes following the results of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration test that found levels of chrysotile asbestos contamination in samples taken from a bottle purchased online. Asbestos is a known carcinogen.
"The FDA continues to test cosmetic products that contain talc for the presence of asbestos to protect Americans from potential health risks," acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless said in a statement released on Friday.
Johnson & Johnson nonetheless said that the levels found were not greater than 0.00002 percent. It also said that it cannot yet confirm if cross-contamination occurred, or if the test was done on a sample from a bottle with an intact seal, or if the tested product is authentic.
The FDA, however, stood by the quality of its testing, saying that it followed standard operating procedures for laboratory analysis.
FDA spokeswoman Lyndsay Meyer also said that the agency found no indication of cross-contamination. She added that the FDA will also be working with Johnson & Johnson to facilitate further investigation that can substantiate the authenticity of the tested product.
Meyer said that at this time, there is no indication that the product is counterfeit and the FDA is not aware of any counterfeit Johnson's baby powder sold in the U.S. market.
Consumers Advised To Stop Using Recalled Baby Powder Products
Consumers who purchased bottles of Johnson's Baby Powder from lot #22318RB are advised to stop using the product. They can also contact the company to ask for a refund.
Johnson & Johnson has faced previous allegations of asbestos contamination in its talcum powder. The company is, in fact, facing lawsuits over allegations that asbestos present in its talcum powder causes cancer.
