Dingell, EWG to Press for Legal Action on Children's Makeup, Asbestos Allegations

A media advisory from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) announced that a press call will be held on Jan. 17, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. EST to pressure U.S. Congress to legally act upon alleged findings of asbestos talc in children’s toy makeup.

Background

Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.); Scott Faber, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs, EWG; and Nneka Leiba, VP for Healthy Living Science, EWG, will hold the call with reporters to urge Congress to pass legislation in response to laboratory tests alleging asbestos was found in a talc-containing eye shadow included in a children’s toy makeup kit. 

Lab tests commissioned by the EWG reportedly found that each gram of eye shadow tested  in the Princess Girl’s All-in-One Deluxe Makeup Palette, sold on Amazon, contained more than 4 million asbestos fiber structures. Additional details were not provided.

Last year, Rep. Dingell introduced H.R. 1816, the Children’s Product Warning Label Act of 2019. This would require warning labels on talc-based cosmetics that could contain asbestos and that are marketed to children.

Fear is Real

This call to action follows other reports of asbestos-containing personal care products, including the infamous baby powder lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, and FDA alerts urging consumers to stop using specified cosmetics sold by retailer Claire's. While scientifically, causal links between asbestos exposure and measurable injury and harm have been inconclusive, the fear this has instilled in consumers is very real.

As such, the cosmetic R&D industry might do well to consider a legitimate and scientific response; be it a new test method and/or labeling to reinstate consumer confidence, or an alternative material altogether that resonates with consumers. 

To obtain call-information, contact Monica Amarelo at the EWG.