Baby Powder Sold in 35 States Recalled Due to Risk of Asbestos Contamination

Your baby’s health and safety is of the utmost importance, so it’s crucial to choose care products for them that are held to high regard. That’s why a September 19 recall involving baby powder produced by the Montvale, New Jersey-based company Dynarex Corporation sparked concern for protective parents and prompted health warnings across the country.

Now, in an October 28 update, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just announced that the recall on Dynacare Baby Powder has been expanded to include additional 40,000 bottles sold by the brand. The reason for the extended recall is possible contamination with asbestos—a dangerous, cancer-causing mineral.

“Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is often found near talc, an ingredient in many cosmetic products,” the recall announcement states. “Asbestos, however, is a known carcinogen and its health risks are well-documented. If talc mining sites are not carefully chosen or if proper steps are not taken to adequately purify the talc ore, it may contain asbestos,” the FDA writes.

The original September recall involved 62 cases of Dynacare Baby Powder, 14 oz. (item number 4875). That product could be identified by its batch number, B 051. The recall now includes an additional 373 cases of Dynacare Baby Powder, 14 oz. (item number 4875), as well as 647 cases of Dynacare Baby Powder, 4 oz. (item number 4874).

According to the announcement, these items were packaged in plastic bottles, with lot/batch numbers printed on both the bottom of the bottle and on each case. The items were bundled 24 bottles to a case for the 14 oz. (8,952 total) and 48 to a case for the 4 oz. (31,056 total), the FDA notes. The baby powder products with the following pack sizes, batch numbers, and expiration dates are now believed to be contaminated:

• 14 oz., batch number B 048, expiration date 10/26/2026
• 14 oz., batch number B 049, expiration date 10/31/2026
• 14 oz., batch number B 050, expiration date 11/11/2026
• 14 oz., batch number B 051, expiration date 12/28/2026
• 14 oz., batch number B 052, expiration date 12/29/2026
• 4 oz., batch number B 053, expiration date 12/31/2026
• 4 oz., batch number B 054, expiration date 01/02/2027
• 4 oz., batch number B 055, expiration date 01/03/2027
• 4 oz., batch number B 056, expiration date 01/04/2027
• 4 oz., batch number B 057, expiration date 01/05/2027
• 4 oz., batch number B 058, expiration date 01/07/2027
• 4 oz., batch number B 059, expiration date 01/30/2027
• 4 oz., batch number B 060, expiration date 01/31/2027

The tainted products were shipped to distributors in at least 35 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. They were also sold online on Amazon on or prior to January 18, 2024.

“The recall was the result of a routine sampling program by the FDA, which revealed that the finished products contained asbestos,” explains the FDA’s notice. “Upon further investigation, we have identified additional lots of products that may contain asbestos due to using the same bulk talc material. The company has ceased the distribution of the product as an investigation is proceeding to determine what caused the contamination of the talc,” they write.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that “Exposure to asbestos, including chrysotile, causes cancer of the lung, larynx and ovaries, and mesothelioma (a cancer of the pleural and peritoneal linings),” noting that asbestos is estimated to “cause deaths and ill health in large numbers of people ever year.”

At the time of the recall update, no illnesses or adverse events reported to date. However, the illnesses associated with asbestos have long latency periods, according to the WHO, and may take years to present.

Consumers who have purchased Dynacare Baby Powder should stop using the product immediately and return it for a full refund. Dynarex Corporation can be reached by phone at (888) 396-2739 or (845) 365-8200 from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM EST, or via email at [email protected]. If you believe you or your child is experiencing adverse health effects related to the recall, tell your doctor and report your concerns to FDA’s MedWatch using the MedWatch Online Voluntary Reporting Form.

For daily wellness updates, subscribe to The Healthy by Reader’s Digest newsletter and follow The Healthy on Facebook and Instagram. Keep reading:

• 11,000 Bottles Recalled of a Laxative Sold At Walmart and Other Retailers
• A Major Ingredient Has Been Recalled In Response to the McDonald’s Food Poisoning Outbreak
• 250,000 Covid Tests Sold Nationwide Recalled for False Results
• 785,000 Diabetes Devices Were Just Recalled Nationwide and in Puerto Rico