The maker of a popular baby powder brand expanded a nationwide recall of the product to nearly 42,000 bottles due to the risk they are contaminated with cancer-causing asbestos, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.
Dynarex Corporation, which sells medical supplies and personal care products, was expanding the recall had initially recalled about 1,500 bottles from a single batch on Sep. 19.
Dynarex issued the expanded recall Monday after the FDA discovered some products contained asbestos during a routine sampling.
No illnesses linked to the potentially tainted baby powder have been reported as of Wednesday.
Dynarex did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Asbestos is a mineral often found near talcum powder, an ingredient in many baby powders and cosmetic products.
Individuals who breathe in asbestos fibers – which could be released into the air via contaminated baby powder – are at risk of cancer, as well as mesothelioma and other lung diseases.
New research has also linked applying baby powder to the genitals with ovarian cancer.
The recalled baby powder bottles were sold in 35 states across the country, including New York and New Jersey, and via Amazon.
The products were sent to distributors on or after Jan. 18.
Dynarex’s expanded recall includes an additional 8,952 of the 14 oz. baby powder bottles and 31,056 of the 4 oz. baby powder bottles.
Customers who have purchased Dynacare baby powder should check the batch number on the bottom of the bottles.
The recalled products are from batch numbers B 048, B 049, B 050, B 051, B 052, B 053, B 054, B 055, B 056, B 057, B 058, B 059 and B 060.
The FDA advises customers who have purchased baby powder subject to the recall to stop use immediately and return the items for a full refund.
Johnson & Johnson, the world’s largest baby powder manufacturer, has been slammed with more than 50,000 lawsuits over the past twenty years alleging its talc baby powder included asbestos – and that executives knew and kept the information from the public.
In 2020, the company pulled its talc-based baby powder products from shelves in North America.
Most recently, the company – which has a market capitalization of $386.8 billion – this year agreed to pay $700 million in a nationwide settlement to resolve allegations it misled customers about the safety of its products.
The settlement, which is still pending, would force the company to permanently stop manufacturing and selling all of its baby powder products, as well as any other body and cosmetic products containing talc.
