Ratheesh Kaliyadan
The Maharashtra Food and Drug
Administration took a brave decision by cancelling Johnson and Johnson's
(J&J) license for manufacturing cosmetics. The decision is followed by
following complaints of carcinogenic substances residue in its talcum powder
for infants.
K.B. Shende, Joint Commissioner
(Drug), Maharashtra FDA revealed that the J&J company used ethylene oxide
in its skin powder for infants. The sterilisation process using the chemical is
completely wrong, for it remains as a residue. With usage, the talcum powder
could turn carcinogenic and cause irreparable damage'.
Unknowingly, our mothers become
happy only if the infants and children are covered with the J&J talcum
powders. Though there are small wounds, they use the powder as a protective
cover! The result is direct entry of the carcinogens into the blood.
“We have not suspended the licence,
we have cancelled it. The company cannot manufacture the Johnson baby powder at
this stage,'' confirmed K.B. Shende, Joint Commissioner (Drug), Maharashtra
FDA.
What is the saddest point of this
decision? The complaint relates to 15 batches of talcum powder, comprising
160,000 containers, manufactured in 2007, by the company at its facility in
Mulund, a Mumbai suburb. The J&J baby powder has a three-year shelf-life. A
J&J official said to the Businessline: “ the FDA raised concerns about
ethylene oxide treatment, which is not part of the manufacturing process as
submitted to the FDA. The shelf-life of the concerned batch ended July 2010”.
The J&J official’s words clearly mention that the decision is over a sold
out product which will not help those who used the product. Still it will help
to open our parents’ eyes and ears on using cosmetics.
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