I don’t know about you, but learning about the plethora of products out there that cause cancer is so frustrating.  Really.  My head is spinning.  Deep breath.  Take action.  So the purpose of this post is not spread the frustration, but to encourage us to take a few moments and speak out again harmful ingredients that company giants like Johnson & Johnson use to manufacture products.  Like baby products.

Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay more than $110 million to a Virginia woman for allegedly failing to disclose the cancer risk from its baby powder and another product.  A woman was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and alleged that J&J hid the possibility that talc in its baby powder and Shower to Shower products can cause cancer.  This isn’t the only lawsuit that the company giant faced regarding talc:  $72 million, $70 million and $55 million and facing multiple federal class-action suits.

What is Talc

It’s a soft mineral that is mined from deposits in the U.S. and around the world, including the U.S then crushd into a white powder.  It’s not only in baby powder, but also in cosmetics and other personal care products, paints and plastics.

Can it cause cancer?

There isn’t a definitive answer to this, but studies have shown that it could cause cancers like ovarian and lung.  And in light of the lawsuits that are happening, there must of been extensive legal research to prove that it may – just that the research in the lab needs to be continued over a longitudinal study.

Other concerns with baby powder

Your baby can easily inhale tiny particles of the baby powder since it’s light enough to be sifting through the air. Especially for infants, it can be serious since it can affect the baby’s breathing.  Studies have shown talc and baby powder products can lead to shortness of breath, block their airways and even develop pneumonia.

So what can I use in lieu of baby powder?

I looked into using organic cornstarch, but this isn’t safe either isn’t ideal either because of inhalation.   If you have children that have asthma, powders shouldn’t be used because it can cause irritation.  Alternatively, you can opt for creams or non-petroleum jelly.  I used Alba’s with Abby and she has super sensitive skin.  I would not recommend general use petroleum jelly because it’s refined from petroleum and can contain impurities such as poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) which has been linked to cancer.

I recently logged on to J&J’s website and they had a teary video of how they they have dedicated teams and millions of dollars to research and improve health care products, technology and services.  I am not against the big companies that produce products that make our lives healthier and convenient.  However, it isn’t sustainable to use ingredients that are harmful to the environment to produce and that can potentially cause cancer.  Perhaps after the numerous lawsuits they can put that manpower into R&D for products that are safe for baby and family.

What do you think about the recent news about J&J?  Are there other companies giants that you would like to see make a change?  Thanks for reading and caring!