After the discontinuation of Johnson & Johnson baby powder in the US, now clouds of crisis have started looming over the production of Dynarex Corporation’s Dynacare Baby Powder.
In fact, samples of this baby powder taken by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been found to contain a mineral called asbestos, which poses a risk of cancer. After the FDA’s warning, the company has recalled 62 boxes of Dynacare baby powder. These had been supplied to Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Florida, Washington and Wisconsin in the US.
The company claims that no one suffered from the disease
A media report quoting the company said that it has recalled the stock of baby powder distributed as the matter is still under investigation. The company has claimed that so far no symptoms of illness have been seen due to the recalled baby powder.
On the other hand, the FDA says that if the sites are not carefully selected during talc mining, it can be contaminated with asbestos. The FDA has appealed that if customers have purchased the recalled baby powder, they should stop using it immediately and destroy it as per the company’s announcement. Apart from this, it can also be returned for full recovery.
What is asbestos, about which there was controversy
According to federal officials, asbestos is also found in the ground where digging is done to obtain talc. Talc is found inside the ground and it is completely natural. It contains magnesium, silicon, hydrogen and oxygen. When its chemical form is seen, magnesium silicate is seen in it. Let us tell you that it is also used to absorb moisture. It is also used in making cosmetics and personal care. Studies show that breathing in asbestos can cause non-cancerous diseases like asbestosis and lung disease. Exposure to asbestos can also increase the risk of developing certain cancers like lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Johnson & Johnson had to pay $700 million
It is worth mentioning here that Johnson & Johnson, one of the world’s largest health care product manufacturing companies, had to accept a settlement of $700 million to settle the matter of the presence of cancer-causing elements in talcum-based products in its baby powder. A report said that this settlement also proves the allegations that Johnson & Johnson misled consumers regarding the safety of its talcum products. However, the company has currently stopped the sale of this product. But before stopping the sale, these products were being sold for more than a century.
Thousands of sick people have filed lawsuits against the company
The company, however, has not admitted any wrongdoing under the settlement with the states, which included state leaders from Florida, North Carolina and Texas. The company says its talc products are safe and do not cause cancer. It announced an in-principle agreement in January. Last year, Johnson & Johnson stopped selling its talc-based baby powder worldwide, opting for corn starch as the powder’s primary ingredient. The company says its products are asbestos-free.
Notably, Johnson & Johnson is dealing with a large number of lawsuits related to its talc products. As of March 31, approximately 61,490 individuals have sued the company. Most of these cases involve women suffering from ovarian cancer, while some plaintiffs suffer from mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. However, the FDA is now targeting Dynarex Corporation’s Dynacare Baby Powder and the matter is under investigation.
