Nairobi — The African Centre for Corrective and Preventive Action (ACCPA) has petitioned the Ministry of Health to ban talc-based baby powder over asbestos contamination.

The Kenyan-based registered non-governmental organization cited lawsuits in the United States where customers claimed that talc products caused cancer due to contamination with the carcinogen asbestos.

The ACCPA pointed out that several countries, including Tanzania, Congo, Zimbabwe, Canada, and those within the European Union, have already banned the product.

"As an organization, we are writing to request information on the importation, distribution, and sale of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Baby Powder in Kenya. Recently, J&J has been accused of using talc and benzene in their baby powder products, which is a cause for significant health concern," said John Macharia, the ACCPA Executive Director.

Macharia emphasized that there is universal consensus that benzene should not be used in the manufacture of drug substances and products due to its unacceptable toxicity and deleterious environmental effects.

He further stated that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation found that a sample from one lot of the product contained asbestos and that the company has agreed to a multibillion-dollar settlement over claims.

He called on the Ministry of Health to provide information on the action it has taken following "the implied admission on the part of Johnson & Johnson company by committing to pay claimants."

He added that the right to health is a fundamental human right guaranteed in the Constitution of Kenya and urged the MoH to provide the requested information within 14 days.

Macharia said that the response from the MoH on the issue will support their efforts in implementing the options available within their mandate to protect the rights and interests of the public.