Posted on June 11, 2019
Once again, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised consumers to stop using certain cosmetic products due to asbestos contamination.
On May 29, and 30, 2019, the FDA recalled two cosmetic brands, “Beauty Plus Global Contour Effects Palette 2, Batch No. S1603002/PD-C1179” and “Claire’s JoJo Siwa Makeup Set, SKU #888711136337, Batch/Lot No. S180109” which tested positive for asbestos. This isn’t the first time Claire’s toxic make-up have been recalled either. It is outrageous for Claire’s to use an unsuspecting celebrity, JoJo Siwa, to sell contaminated and cheap products.
Unfortunately, this is not the first, or even the second time there have been consumer products, specifically makeup, riddled with asbestos. Over the last two years, there have been a string of reports detailing asbestos-containing talc contaminating cosmetic items. Contaminations like these threaten the health of the public. The largest companies guilty of having produced and distributed contaminated products include Johnson & Johnson, Claire’s, and Justice.
Just a few short months ago, Senator Merkley and Congresswoman Bonamici, both champions of the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act, wrote a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Wheeler, outlining their concerns with a report released by Reuters about asbestos contaminated talcum powder products on consumer shelves
#WARNING UPDATE: FDA is advising consumers NOT to use the recalled @claires JoJo Siwa Makeup Set because it tested positive for #asbestos fibers. If you have this cosmetic in your home – stop using it.
— FDA Cosmetics (@FDACosmetics) June 10, 2019
As Merkley and Bonamici stated in their letter, without a ban, the United States will continue to import millions of dollars’ worth of asbestos-contaminated consumer goods every year. ADAO agrees. It is outrageous that nearly 40,000 Americans die each year from asbestos-related diseases, yet imports and use of the lethal carcinogen continue.
We are grateful to the FDA for continually taking an active role to protect public health, and call on EPA to take action and ban asbestos in order to keep the public safe. It is time for us to join the other sixty countries who have banned asbestos.
The FDA takes these findings and our obligation to protect consumers seriously. These results are part of our ongoing survey of cosmetic products for asbestos & our commitment to take regulatory and enforcement action as needed.
— Dr. Ned Sharpless (@FDACommissioner) June 7, 2019
I encourage you to call your Senators and Congresspeople to urge them to sign onto the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act (ARBAN), which will ban asbestos within a year of its passage. The time to stop contaminating consumer products is NOW.
Linda Reinstein
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