HOUSTON, Feb. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Talc-related asbestos exposure remains an active public health and legal issue, despite the widespread belief that the risk ended when major consumer products were withdrawn from the U.S. market.
“The public was led to believe talc safety concerns ended when products disappeared from store shelves,” said Dave Foster of Danziger & De Llano. “But ongoing FDA testing and continued litigation show the issue is unresolved and the exposure risk persists.”
Ongoing Risk Remains
- Federal oversight continues: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues testing talc-containing cosmetic products for asbestos, selecting samples based on product category, consumer use, and market presence.
- Proposed testing rule withdrawn: In late 2025, the FDA withdrew a proposed rule that would have required standardized asbestos testing methods for talc cosmetics, leaving testing voluntary and inconsistent.
- Confirmed asbestos findings: In FDA sampling conducted in 2019, 9 of 52 talc-containing cosmetic products tested positive for asbestos fibers.
- Litigation remains active: Hundreds of thousands of talc-related claims continue through U.S. courts, including recent verdicts and coordinated litigation involving ovarian cancer and mesothelioma allegations.
- Talc is often mined in proximity to asbestos-bearing geological formations.
- Talc-containing products were sold for decades without uniform asbestos testing standards.
- Asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, commonly have latency periods of 20 to 40 years or longer.
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