Talc-based makeup and powders will not go through new asbestos testing requirements after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration chose to pull back a proposed rule last week.
The decision surprised health advocates, who have pushed for stronger oversight because asbestos is a dangerous contaminant that can appear in talc and is linked to deadly cancers.
The agency says it plans to craft a broader proposal in the future.
Talc is still used in a wide range of consumer items. Makeup like foundation, blush, mascara and eye shadow often contain it, as well as some candies, gums, dietary supplements and tablets, research by former FDA director Dr. George Tidmarsh indicates.
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