The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will host a public roundtable discussion featuring an independent panel of scientific experts to discuss the safety and necessity of talc as an additive in food, drug and cosmetic products on Tuesday, May 20 at 10 a.m. ET.
FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary, M.D., M.P.H., will lead the discussion. The group will review the latest scientific evidence, evaluate potential health risks and explore safer alternatives. Individual experts may offer their recommendations for regulatory action, said FDA. The agency said members of the media and public are welcome and encouraged to attend and listen to the discussion.
Talc, a naturally occurring mineral used in a variety of consumer products, has come under increased scrutiny due to concerns about potential health effects, especially when contaminated with asbestos or consumed over prolonged periods, said FDA. The panel will review data related to talc exposure and evaluate its continued use within the context of public health needs and available alternatives.
“Despite the potential carcinogenic harm with topical talc, it continues to be ingested by children and adults through food and some medications,” said Makary. “We are bringing together a group of leading independent experts to assess the available evidence around talc and consider whether its continued use is necessary given modern alternatives. This is a critical step toward ensuring that ingredients in products used every day by Americans meet the highest standards for safety.”
The decision to convene the panel follows a growing call from public health leaders for a systematic reevaluation of talc's use in consumer products, said FDA. In July 2024, the International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded that talc is "probably carcinogenic," leading to European authorities announcing a ban of talc from cosmetics by 2027. A recent commentary, "Reviewing the Safety of Our Foods and Drugs: An Urgent Need For A Comprehensive Reevaluation by FDA of Talc in the American Food and Drug Supply," collating the works of many of the global talc experts joining the panel, underscored this need, said FDA.
The expert panel discussion will take place at the FDA’s White Oak Campus in Silver Spring, Md. Registration is required, as seating is limited. The session will be livestreamed. Meeting and registration information can be found here.