Back to the Real Salt Lake Newsfeed

Asbestos in Claire’s makeup highlights FDA’s lack of power to police cosmetics makers

Washington • The Food and Drug Administration’s confirmation of asbestos in some Claire’s makeup has sparked calls in and out of the agency to expand cosmetics’ regulatory safeguards.

The FDA has been looking into asbestos reports at Claire's, which also sells teen- and tween-oriented jewelry and accessories, since 2017. Though Claire's voluntarily pulled the products, it would not honor the agency's request to recall the company-branded compact powder, eye shadow and contouring kits had tested positive for asbestos.

The recall was requested because the products "should not be used by consumers," the agency said in a statement Tuesday from departing FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb and Susan Mayne, director of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.