J&J Recalls One Baby Powder Lot After Test Shows Subordinated-Trace Asbestos Levels

By Colin Kellaher

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) on Friday said it launched a voluntary recall of a single lot of its Johnson's Baby Powder after a U.S. Food and Drug Administration test indicated the presence of sub-trace levels of chrysotile asbestos contamination in samples from a single bottle.

J&J said the bottle, purchased from an online retailer, was from a lot produced and shipped in the U.S. in 2018.

The New Brunswick, N.J., company said it is working with the FDA to determine the integrity of the tested sample and the validity of the test results. Among other things, J&J said it is investigating whether cross-contamination of the sample caused a false positive, whether the sample was taken from a bottle with an intact seal, and whether the tested product is authentic or counterfeit.

J&J said it has rigorous testing in place and as recently as last month found no asbestos in its talc. The company said it is recalling the lot out of an abundance of caution despite the low levels of asbestos reported.

Shares of Johnson & Johnson, which closed Thursday at $136.17, slipped 2.6% in premarket trading.

Write to Colin Kellaher at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 18, 2019 09:13 ET (13:13 GMT)

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