It's Not Just Asbestos
From J&J's talc scandal to the EU’s new damning classification, here's the truth about what's in your makeup bag.
A Los Angeles jury recently ordered Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to pay nearly $1 billion in a landmark 2025 lawsuit. The case centered around Mae Moore, who tragically passed away in 2021 from mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer primarily caused by asbestos exposure. Moore’s family successfully argued—and the jury agreed—that she developed the disease as a direct result of using J&J's asbestos-contaminated talc baby powder for decades.
This should never have happened. Both Johnson & Johnson and regulators were aware for at least 40 years (likely more) that asbestos contamination in talc was a serious risk and one that could not be mitigated for safe use. In his book, No More Tears, investigative journalist Gardiner Harris details the alleged cover-up of talc dangers by J&J and regulatory failures to act.
In the Moore case, the jury found J&J 100% responsible, concluding the company acted with "malice, oppression or fraud" by hiding the product's risks. The verdict includes $16 million in compensatory damages and a staggering $950 million in punitive damages, designed explicitly to punish the company.
A Pattern of Problems
The Mae Moore lawsuit is just one of over 67,000 talc lawsuits J&J currently faces (as of late 2025). While some cases mirror Moore’s, involving mesothelioma, many others are linked to ovarian cancer. Studies have long suggested a link between using asbestos-contaminated talc in the genital area and an increased risk of ovarian cancer, with asbestos particles actually being found in tumors.
Facing this legal onslaught, J&J has made multiple attempts to manage the fallout, including:
Transferring its talc liabilities to a new subsidiary and then declaring that subsidiary bankrupt (a move often called the "Texas Two-Step").
Proposing large-scale settlements, which have so far been rejected by the courts (a $10 billion proposal was rejected in early 2025).
Finally removing talc from its baby powder in the U.S. and Canada in 2020, and globally in 2023, all while still insisting its products were safe.
The EU Classifies Talc As a Carcinogen
For decades, the entire debate—from the J&J lawsuits to regulatory proposals—has focused on asbestos contamination. But in late 2024, the European Union's expert scientific panel officially classified the talc mineral itself (CAS 14807-96-6) as a "presumed human carcinogen" (Carc. 1B). This is a game-changing classification that is completely separate from the asbestos risk.
The panel's opinion is based on evidence that specifically excludes asbestos:
Human & Animal Studies: They combined the "limited evidence" from over 30 human studies linking talc's perineal (genital) use to ovarian cancer with the "limited evidence" from animal studies (like a 1993 U.S. study) showing lung tumors in rats that inhaled pure talc.
Chronic Inflammation: They found strong evidence that talc particles themselves act as a foreign body that the immune system can't break down. This causes chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in the tissue, a well-known biological pathway that can damage DNA and lead to cancer.
This new classification triggers an automatic ban under EU law. While the official legal text is being finalized, the ban is expected to take full effect by 2027.
The US vs. The EU
The U.S. falls far behind the EU when it comes to regulating cosmetic ingredients. In the case of talc, the U.S. is still honing in only on the asbestos problem. Even in that arena, the U.S. is failing. The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA) of 2022 mandated that the FDA establish standardized asbestos testing for talc in cosmetics by June 2024. As of late 2025, these crucial standards are still pending.
While the U.S. is still struggling to finalize testing for asbestos, the EU has already classified the talc mineral itself as a presumed carcinogen.
This highlights a hard truth: we cannot simply wait for U.S. regulators to act. The responsibility for choosing safe products falls entirely on us, the consumer.
Is Talc Hiding in Your Makeup Bag?
While J&J has been the poster child for talc, many beauty brands continue to use talc. It’s a cheap, silky filler in countless products from eyeshadows and blushes to setting powders and foundation.
Here are just a few common products that often contain talc (Note: This is not exhaustive. Always check the current ingredient list.):
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
Rare Beauty Foundation
Fenty Beauty Eyeshadow Palettes
Secret deodorant
Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder
Be Your Own Regulator
The staggering J&J verdict and the EU's game-changing ban are an undeniable warning. We have to be vigilant.
The good news is high-performing alternatives to talc exist, and many clean brands already use them. Replacements for talc in beauty products you’ll see on labels include corn starch, arrowroot powder, rice powder, or kaolin clay.
When you're shopping, be on the lookout for not just "talc," but also other names it hides under, like "talcum powder" and "magnesium silicate."
Reading tiny labels is a pain, but it's a must for our health. To make it easy, I built the Switch Natural app to do the work for you. You can simply scan any ingredient list and find out in seconds if it contains talc or other harmful ingredients.
