By Stanley Ugagbe
Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has disclosed that it is investigating Johnson & Johnson’s talc baby powder amidst the product’s safety concerns in the US and Canada among other markets.
Charles Karangwa, Director General of Rwanda FDA said “Rwanda FDA is aware that one batch of Johnson & Johnson baby talcum-based powder was reported to be contaminated with a cancer organic agent”.
The Nigerian Canadian News gathered that thousands of lawsuits have been filed against the company, and in April 2018, Johnson & Johnson was found guilty in a trial accusing the company of selling contaminated talc powder products with cancer-causing asbestos.
But in a statement, Karangwa stated that in Rwanda, they haven’t found that batch on the market yet, but investigations were ongoing.
We recall that in a recent development, Johnson & Johnson announced the discontinuation of talc-based Johnson’s baby powder sales in the U.S. and Canada, but that the powder will continue to be sold in other markets around the world.
In a statement made available to newsmen, the company said it “remains steadfastly confident in the safety of talc-based Johnson’s baby powder”.
According to Wikipedia, Baby powder is an astringent powder used for preventing diaper rash and for cosmetic uses. It may be composed of talcum (in which case it is also called talcum powder) or corn starch. Baby powder can also be used as a dry shampoo, cleaning agent (to remove grease stains), and freshener.
Talcum powder is dangerous if inhaled since it may cause aspiration pneumonia or granuloma.Severe cases may lead to chronic respiratory problems or even death.The particles in corn starch powder are larger and less likely to be inhaled.
Some studies have found a statistical relationship between talc applied to the perineal area by women and incidence of ovarian cancer. However, there is not a consensus that the two are linked. In 2017, over 1,000 US women suedJohnson & Johnson for covering up the possible cancer risk with its baby powder product.The company discontinued sales of talcum powder in the United States and Canada in 2020.
