Some of you remember when a famous brand of baby powder contained talcum powder. They've now switched to corn starch. (Can glyphosate, the weed killer, be in this corn product?) How many babies breathed in the dustings their innocent moms used to keep their baby bottoms dry? Now, talc is used in some medications and foods.
Friends, we must become savvy about the products we consume or use in or on our bodies. Many of them, some we may have used for years, are now being shown by research to contain contaminates that you would never knowingly put in or on your bodies.
They used to say, "Better living through chemistry." Now we're finding that these toxic chemicals, which may be hidden under different names, can stay in your body for years, quietly sabotaging your health.
Did you know that asbestos can contaminate some talc sources? (asbestos is a known carcinogen.) Or that talc will accumulate in body tissues and stay there for years? Or that a FDA commissioner commented that talc has been labeled as carcinogenic for more than 40 years?
https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/confirmed-jay-bhattacharya-lead-nih-marty-makary-top-fda-post/
These things are eye openers, but that isn't all. Based on studies, an arm of the World Health Organization declares that talc is "Probably carcinogenic." Dr. John Godeski, of Harvard School of Public Health had this to say about talc:"one micron sized particle takes about nine years to dissolve in human tissue." What's it doing to you in the meantime?
Dr. Godeski, a retired pathologist "found talcum powder particles in a woman's ovaries." This means that it can migrate in the body. If there were only five particles in his small specimen sample, it indicated there would be hundreds in the whole ovary. https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/beauty-products/harvard-pathologist-testifies-in-johnson-and-johnson-baby-powder-cancer-lawsuit-saying-talc-particles-point-to-jj/ .
Select Justice mentions that this migration can cause inflammation and scarring in body parts. This, in itself, may set the body up, in a cascade of events, to be a precursor for cancer
So, if this is so dangerous, why would manufacturers put it in products? It helps their bottom line: PROFIT. Because it's slippery, it keeps equipment from being gummed up with other elements in the product. They don't have to stop and clean the equipment.
What does it do to you when you consume it? It hangs around in your body, not always being removed by organs of elimination. While there, it can cause chronic inflammation, which can shut down your immune system, making you more susceptible to all kinds of bugs and viruses.
Let's look at some of what talc does in your body. The word platy is often used with it which means that the particles are flaky. It feels smooth or silky to the touch. It's added (often without mention in the ingredient list) to certain candy, chewing gum and even flour.
So, to keep grated cheese from sticking to itself, talc is often added. Companies do not have to tell you everything they put in their products, so it may not show up in ingredient lists. For the same reason, it is often added to chewing gum and certain candies. It can also hide under the names of cosmetic talc, and magnesium silicate.
Foods that contain talc can include cheese, flour, rolled oats, milk and cream powders and rice from China. https://cen.acs.org/safety/consumer-safety/FDA-targets-talc-food-medicine/103/web/2025/05
What about cosmetics? It can be added to face powder, eye shadow, blush, mascara, lipstick and foundation. According to Select Justice, they name these brand names as containing talcum powder: Cover Girl, Revlon, Clinique and Maybelline plus others I was unfamiliar with. It's also in some food, crayons, deodorant and certain supplements. Talcum powder is used in a number of makeup products aimed at children. https://www.selectjustice.com/talcum-powder/these-common-products-contain-talcum-powder
Another danger is that asbestos can be connected to talc which can also cause cancer. Two hits for one product. This combo can be a cause of cancer in the lining of the lungs, abdomen or heart and has been implicated in mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can develop within the lining of many body organs, namely the lungs and chest wall. It can also affect the lining of a man's testes which would affect his ability to procreate. It is cited as being aggressive. This one is particularly tied to asbestos. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/mesothelioma
I mentioned that talc is added to medications. When I looked that up, I was horrified at the numbers of drugs containing the form of talc known as magnesium silicate. Here are just a few of the 20+ ones listed. Enteric coated aspirin, Gabapentin, Ibuprofen,Lipitor, Penicillin V potassium, Synthroid. https://www.drugs.com/inactive/magnesium-silicate-122.html and.. https://publichealth.realclearjournals.org/perspectives/2025/04/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/
Here are some other products containing talc other than what we've listed. Paint, insecticides, ceramics, roofing materials, children's toys, rubber, paper, paint, polished rice, and plastics. https://zaneslaw.com/talcum-powder-lawyer/products/ . And https://www.lawfirm.com/product-liability/talcum-powder/products/
Notice that several of these information sources came from attorneys who have dealt with the repercussions their clients have had.
Do we need to add to the toxic load our livers have to deal with? Several carcinogens in one product can over-burden our ability to shed the often stored and accumulated toxins. They can become time bombs to put people in the maw of the chemical/ cancer industries.
Although this may be alarming to you, I want to do what I can to expose the chemical choices that have been made for us with their detrimental effects. These things are just coming to light and it's time to make some changes. Read labels and make your choices based on what you learn. If enough of us vote through our buying power, it may send a strong message that can affect their profit margin. That alone can cause changes.
Nancy L. Pidutti, PhD, NHH, Nurse, Author, Chaplain etc.
