Baby Powder Manufacturer Voluntarily Recalls Product for Asbestos

Message from the Acting Associate Commissioner

Dear Women’s Health Colleagues,

Today, the Office of Women’s Health is sharing an important announcement issued by FDA regarding the voluntary recall by Johnson & Johnson of a single lot of Johnson’s Baby Powder after FDA testing found the product contains chrysotile fibers, a type of asbestos. FDA is advising consumers to stop using the affected products. We recognize that many women use baby powder for themselves and for their loved ones. Therefore, we encourage you to read more about this announcement below.

Sincerely,

Kaveeta Vasisht, M.D., Pharm.D.

Acting Associate Commissioner for Women's Health

Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. to Voluntarily Recall a Single Lot of Johnson’s Baby Powder in the United States

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting consumers about Johnson’s Baby Powder Lot #22318RB. A sample from this lot was found to contain chrysotile fibers, a type of asbestos. On October 18, 2019, Johnson & Johnson voluntarily recalled this product, and consumers who have this lot of baby powder should stop using it.

The results from the Johnson & Johnson sample are part of our ongoing survey of cosmetic products for asbestos. This survey started in 2018 and involves the testing of about 50 cosmetic products. As part of the same survey of cosmetic products, a Johnson’s Baby Powder sample from a different lot tested negative for asbestos. That sample came from Lot #00918RA.

The FDA expects to issue the full results of its current set of cosmetics testing by the end of the year. These results will include results from cosmetic products that have tested negative, as well as positive. The FDA has been releasing positive results on an ongoing basis to alert consumers to stop using those products. The FDA has also been informing individual manufacturers about their tested products that were found to be negative for asbestos as data are finalized.

Read the Full Announcement