Woman Sues Avon Cosmetics For Containing Asbestos That Caused Her Mesothelioma
Asbestos found in Johnson's Baby Powder may be the tip of the iceberg of cosmetic products that cause cancer
Thursday, April 25, 2019 - The scope and magnitude of a recent FDA security alert published as a result of having found asbestos in cosmetic products could open a flood of litigation against major cosmetic companies. The FDA found that "certain cosmetic products sold by Claire's and Justice retailers such as shimmer powder, eye shadow, and lip gloss, and used every day by women in the United States contain asbestos." Asbestos is an organic compound that gained its notoriety as being carcinogenic in the 1970s and products that were known to contain asbestos such as building insulation and other industrial workplace materials were taken off of the market. More recently, Johnson & Johnson has become the object of thousands of lawsuits that claim that Johnson's Baby Powder contains asbestos and has caused women to develop ovarian cancer and others to develop mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs. Now the accusations of products that contain asbestos have widened to include other cosmetic companies and products in addition to the ones mentioned above. Iconic beauty products leader Avon Products is being accused of producing cosmetics that contain higher than acceptable levels of asbestos.
A bellwether trial is underway that, like the Johnson's Baby Powder scandal that could rock the entire cosmetics industry. Mesothelioma.net reports that a woman has filed suit against Avon alleging that her use of their cosmetics over a 30 plus year period contributed to her developing peritoneal cancer. "Kim Young, a 61-year-old woman who was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma and who believes that it came from her lifelong use of Avon's talc products. Mrs. Young's case alleges that she used Avon products, including Skin So Soft, Bird of Paradise and Unforgettable, from 1961 through 1999. Like many young girls brought up in the 60s and 70s, she recalls her mother using the same product up until the time of her death, and has memories of using a powder puff to apply the powder, and writing her name in the dust left behind on surfaces in the family bathroom." A New York judge that is to hear the case denied Avon's attempt to have the case dismissed and the case is moving forward. National talcum powder lawyers handling talcum powder asbestos lawsuit cases are offering a no obligation free consultation before filing a claim.
In a previously overlooked court case involving asbestos in cosmetic products, in May of 2015, a California woman was awarded $13 million when a jury found that Colgate-Palmolive's Cashmere Bouquet talcum powder contained asbestos and caused her mesothelioma. "Judith Winkel, 73, told the court she used the popular scented talcum powder from 1961 to 1976," according to Asbestos.com.
Cosmetic companies have long escaped the scrutiny and stringent testing requirements that foods, drugs, and medical devices have to go through by being a "self-regulating" industry. As such the FDA can not demand that a cosmetics product be recalled even if it is found to be cancer-causing. Millions of woman around the world are right to be concerned that not only the baby powder they use but also the brand of all other beauty products they use every day may be giving them cancer.
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