More than a thousand bottles of baby powder sold on Amazon are being recalled over fears they may contain asbestos.
Routine testing has detected the cancer-causing substance in Dynacare’s 4875 baby powder, which is often used on babies to prevent and treat diaper rash.
A total of 1,500 bottles priced at $47 each and sold since March of this year have been recalled in 12 states, including Pennsylvania, Florida and Illinois.
To date, no illnesses or adverse events have been reported, and customers are urged to stop using the powder immediately and return it to sellers for a full refund.
Dynacare baby powder, sold on Amazon, is being recalled over fears it may be contaminated with asbestos
The FDA, which detected the contamination, disclosed the recall in a notice posted on its website Thursday.
He said 62 cases of the bottles (with 24 14-ounce bottles per case) had been recalled after they were distributed by retailers.
The bottles have a best before date of December 2026 and a lot number B051, which are printed on the bottom of the bottles.
Dynacare Baby Powder contains talc which is mined and ground into a water-absorbing powder.
Talc deposits are often found near deposits of asbestos, which is a naturally occurring mineral.
The FDA said in its recall notice that if talc mining sites are not carefully selected or if efforts are not made to purify the talc once it is mined, then the talc may be contaminated with asbestos.
After using the powder at home, small particles of asbestos can become suspended in the air and then be inhaled by both the adult using the powder and the baby.
These can then become trapped in lung tissue, where they cause inflammation and irritation of the tissue, causing harmful mutations in nearby cells.
Over time, this can lead to cancers such as lung cancer and mesothelioma, a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and is linked to asbestos exposure.
The recalled bottles of the powder have lot number B051 marked on the bottom and also an expiration date of December 2026 (shown above).
The recalled bottles have lot number B051 marked on the outside of their retail box.
The recall is eerily reminiscent of Johnson and Johnson’s own legal troubles amid allegations that its baby powder contained asbestos and had caused cancer.
The company is offering an $8 billion settlement to more than 50,000 people who sued over the reported contamination.
He has already lost several court cases, including $4.5 million to the family of Theresa Garcia, a mother of six who died at age 53 from asbestos-related cancer after using the powder for decades.
Johnson and Johnson has discontinued its baby powder and replaced it with a powder that uses cornstarch.
In revealing the recall, the FDA said: ‘Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral often found near talc, an ingredient found in many cosmetic products.
‘However, asbestos is a known carcinogen and its health risks are well documented.
‘During talc mining, if mining sites are not carefully selected or steps are not taken to sufficiently purify the talc ore, it may become contaminated with asbestos.’
The recalled bottles were distributed to retailers on March 11 in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Florida, Washington and Wisconsin.