Some baby powder products have been recalled from shelves as a precautionary measure after trace levels of asbestos were detected in test samples, said Tiger Brands.
The products include the 100g, 200g and 400g pack sizes of Purity Essentials baby powder, Elizabeth Anne’s Essentials baby powder and Elizabeth Anne’s Fresh baby powder. The recall does not affect Purity Essentials Baby cornstarch powder or any other Baby Care products under the Purity brand.
The samples were from a batch of pharmaceutical-grade talc powder used as raw material in the production of finished powder products, reports TimesLIVE.
“The batch of raw material with the detected trace levels of asbestos does not meet the company’s strict quality and safety standards,” said Tiger Brands, adding that it was working with its retail and wholesale customers to remove all affected products from store shelves.
Consumers who have already bought the affected products can return them to their nearest supermarket, wholesaler or pharmacy outlet that stocks the product for a cash refund or coupon from 8 September, it said.
Last month, MedicalBrief reported that Johnson & Johnson, which faces a barrage of legal challenges over its talc-based baby powder, had confirmed it would stop global sales of the product in 2023, more than two years after it ended US sales of the product that has drawn thousands of consumer safety lawsuits.
The company faces about 38 000 lawsuits from consumers and their survivors, claiming its baby powder caused cancer due to contamination with asbestos, a known carcinogen, reported Reuters.
In 2020, the company had announced it would stop selling its baby powder in the US and Canada because demand had fallen in the wake of what it called “misinformation” about the product’s safety amid thousands of legal challenges.
However, although J&J has denied the allegations, saying decades of scientific testing and regulatory approvals have shown its talc to be safe and asbestos-free, it had since switched to cornstarch-based powder: cornstarch-based baby powder is already sold in countries around the world, including South Africa.
TimesLIVE article – Baby powder product recall for Purity & Elizabeth Anne’s brands (Open access)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
J&J confirms end to global talc sales amid contamination litigation
J&J receives subpoenas related to asbestos contamination litigation
A win for J&J over asbestos contamination in talc causing cancer
Jury awards $4.7bn pay-out to women using J&J talc products