California Pushes for Clear Talc Labels

A new measure in California would mandate warnings on talc-based products because they could cause cancer and people should know about these dangers

Monday, August 25, 2025 - The California Senate has sponsored a bill that would require better labeling on talc-based consumer items. This is because there is more and more evidence that using talc for a long time can lead to major health problems, such as ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. Lawmakers who support the legislation said that people should have clear, straightforward warnings about possible hazards whenever talc is in personal care products. People have used talc in powders, cosmetics, and hygiene items for years, and it is often sold as safe and gentle. But more and more lawsuits and scientific research have raised concerns. Baby powder cancer lawyers think that this law could change the game by officially recognizing the risk at the state level. This would give plaintiffs in baby powder cancer lawsuits more power in court. Supporters say the rule will also stop harm from happening in the future by making sure that clients know what they are putting on their bodies. Thousands of cases have previously claimed that manufacturers haven't given these warnings for decades. This bill might help make the case that consumers didn't get important safety information.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that talc can sometimes naturally contain asbestos, which is a known cancer-causing substance. Even though the government has randomly tested talc-containing products in the past few years, the FDA doesn't mandate manufacturers to provide precise mineral composition or cancer warnings on the packaging right now. California's proposed law would address that gap in its own state by requiring manufacturers to explicitly declare the amount of talc in their products and include a prominent warning about possible health risks. Supporters claim the law is similar to previous consumer safety laws the state has passed, like Proposition 65, which requires products with specific chemicals to have warnings about cancer and reproductive health. Experts in public health think that this law could be copied by other states, especially since California has a lot of power over national consumer standards. Critics of the talc industry say that many of the lawsuits against manufacturers use internal records to show that executives knew about the risks of asbestos contamination but did not tell the public. Lawyers representing baby powder cancer victims say that clear labeling rules could have stopped years of exposure by letting families make smart choices before buying or using these items. Both lawmakers and consumer advocates are supporting the proposed plan, and hearings are set to decide how it will become law.

If California's measure to make talc labels clearer passes, it might have implications that go beyond the state's borders. In the past, when public health laws regulated tobacco and chemical disclosures, big firms frequently changed their national labeling policies instead of making distinct packaging for California. This could mean that talc-based goods sold in the US will soon have greater warnings on them. From a legal point of view, clearer labeling could change the claims in litigation about baby powder and cancer. Plaintiffs may use new rules that require more openness as proof that regulators think the dangers are big enough to need warnings for consumers.