Regulators to inspect J&J's factory

To investigate alleged carcinogenic effect and presence of impurities in baby powder

A team from the Drugs Controller General of India and Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will in a day or two conduct an investigation at Johnson &Johnson's factory at Mulund in this city's northeast.

This is in the wake of the FDA's decision to send samples of J&J's Baby Powder for laboratory testing, a week after a US jury ordered the cosmetics giant to pay compensation of $72 million to the family of a woman who won a legal battle against it. The charge was a link to ovarian cancer after decades of using the company's talc powder.

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An FDA official told Business Standard, “The team will look into the source, samples, specifications, testing and records at the J&J factory. The team will also verify ingredients or impurities, if any, in the talc or baby powder which might have carcinogenic effect.” He expected the report to be ready within a month.

“FDA has already collected samples of J&J's 'Shower to Shower' and also 'Dermicool', 'Ponds' and 'Nycil' talcum powder brands of other companies from across Maharashtra. The samples have been sent to our laboratory to check if they follow the rules laid down under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The test will determine the presence of heavy metals in the talcum powder which might have carcinogenic properties,'' he added.

He said they could consider similar investigation in other companies after completion of these tests.

A J&J spokesman said, ''Our products contain talc that meets the highest quality, purity and compliance standards. Our sources for talc undergo comprehensive qualification to ensure quality, safety and compliance with all global standards. Consumers should feel confident that the overwhelming body of research and clinical evidence continues to support the safety of cosmetic talc. This includes assessments by external experts and our own company testing. Many research papers and epidemiology studies have specifically evaluated talc, and these studies have found talc to be safe.''

Adding: "J&J always complies with regulator requests, including further testing."