Is Talcum Powder Safe ?

Talc is a naturally occurring mineral. Its soft composition makes it perfect for cosmetic and personal care products.

The grade of talc used in cosmetics is of high purity, comparable to that used for pharmaceutical applications, and is free from asbestos and asbestiform fibers. Talc-based JOHNSON’S^® baby powder was only mined from select deposits from certified locations, and milled to relatively large, non-respirable particle size.

JOHNSON’S^® talc-based baby powder does not contain asbestos, a substance classified as cancer-causing. The talc used in all our global production was carefully selected and processed to be asbestos-free, which was confirmed by regular testing to confirm purity. Like all our products, JOHNSON’S^® talc-based baby powder contains only ingredients that have been fully evaluated by scientific and medical experts to ensure they are safe to use.

No. JOHNSON’S^® talc-based baby powder does not cause cancer, and is safe to use.

Consumer trust in JOHNSON’S^® Baby products is important to us – that’s why we use ingredients that are deemed safe to use by the latest science.
Unfortunately, news coverage of lawsuits has created unfounded confusion and fear about talc—an ingredient that has been used safely in foods, cosmetic products and pharmaceuticals.

Decades of testing by medical experts at leading institutions in the UK and around the world using the most state-of-the-art testing protocols demonstrates that JOHNSON’S^® talc-based baby powder is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer.

Scientific Studies on Talc and Ovarian Cancer

We have examined the best epidemiological evidence about the safety of talc which consists of large prospective cohort studies of women over decades; such large, robust evidence- based studies are considered more reliable as they follow individuals over time and compare them for a particular clinical outcome. These studies support no association between ovarian cancer and perineal application of talcum powder. ( O'Brien et al. 2020, Gonzalez et al. 2016, Houton et al. 2014, Gertig et al. 2000)  While there are a number of retrospective case control studies on the topic (a study that compares people with disease and without disease and asks questions to look back at past exposures to try and identify a relationship), it is crucial to evaluate the talc-ovarian cancer association using prospective data as described earlier. Notably there are several limitations with retrospective studies given issues such as recall bias, that undermine the reliability of case-control studies . (O'Brien et al. 2020)

We have examined the best epidemiological evidence about the safety of talc which consists of large prospective cohort studies of women over decades; such large, robust evidence- based studies are considered more reliable as they follow individuals over time and compare them for a particular clinical outcome. These studies support no association between ovarian cancer and perineal application of talcum powder. ( O'Brien et al. 2020, Gonzalez et al. 2016, Houton et al. 2014, Gertig et al. 2000) While there are a number of retrospective case control studies on the topic (a study that compares people with disease and without disease and asks questions to look back at past exposures to try and identify a relationship), it is crucial to evaluate the talc-ovarian cancer association using prospective data as described earlier. Notably there are several limitations with retrospective studies given issues such as recall bias, that undermine the reliability of case-control studies . (O'Brien et al. 2020)