AAJ Urges FDA to Abandon Industry-Led Approach to Subpar Testing for Carcinogens

Washington, DC  — The American Association for Justice (AAJ) responded to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s request for comments on testing methods for asbestos in talc and cosmetic products containing talc. AAJ, our attorney members and the many cancer victims of asbestos contamination have long known that proper safeguards were not in place for carcinogenic cosmetic products. Cosmetic products with asbestos-contaminated talc are commonplace in our consumer market, yet the method to test these products utilized by industry and the FDA proves time and again to be woefully and fatally inadequate. AAJ's full comments to the FDA are available here.
"AAJ believes FDA should modify testing methods to include state-of-the-art techniques that identifies all forms of asbestos," said AAJ President Bruce Stern. "Due to industry abuse of current testing methods and obfuscation of what is or is not asbestos, most companies falsely claim that their products are free from asbestos. These companies, however, are not required to be transparent about which testing methods they use or even disclose the results of the tests."
AAJ, along with National Women's Health Network (NWHN), and URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity joined together to inform consumers on the issue of testing for asbestos in talc. 17,020 concerned citizens signed a petition, submitted today, asking the FDA to require cosmetic companies to use the most sensitive state-of the-art methods to test for asbestos in cosmetics. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), also urged consumers to sign a petition with a similar call to action – their petition resulted in 7,015 signatories. Combined, the two groups submitted the names of 24,035 concerned citizens that would like to see the FDA take strong action in reducing our exposure to a known carcinogen.
The effects of industry's preferred subpar testing for carcinogens in their consumer products are devastating, leading many concerned parties to weigh in with the FDA. A group of 19 women's organizations sent a letter detailing the specific risks of talc exposure to women. Their full letter is available here. ###
The American Association for Justice works to preserve the constitutional right to trial by jury and to make sure people have a fair chance to receive justice through the legal system when they are injured by the negligence or misconduct of others—even when it means taking on the most powerful corporations. Visit http://www.justice.org.

CONTACT Carly Moore Sfregola Email: Carly.Sfregola@justice.org Phone: 202-684-9609