Document 0JpKEYY7161DrYpJqdzKp6gZm

FILE NAME: Colgate (COL) DATE: 1990 DOC#: COL030 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Consultant Report - Body Powders, Worldwide Position on Talc and Corn Starch r firm e n ic i") K k\Y u < s i2 M% y*" / / -fo r p J<? 4.J^h Cj Y^- ,,>. M - ^ Iaa^^* ' viO-' 7 V f - V r ' V*i1s *Vuf u ,y- ^ FOE '" N / iK L S A T O iim K I ^ uw>; L* I BODY POWDERS w m im im ... p o s it io n oh,, t m l .and c o s ..sm u g! n"' 1 , i** r , 4 : 'V" .A?*') BACKGROUND AND OBSERVATIONS TALC The results of a number of scientific studies in the early 19701s intimated that talc could be responsible for causing cancer and lung disease, The follow-up work has led to higher standards required for the processing and manufacture of this natural mineral. Talc is magnesium silicate. Its chemical structure is similar to that of asbestos. In fact, talc and asbestos are often found side by side in mineral deposits. In 1971, a report from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine showed that samples of talc frets cosmetics contained significant amounts ot asbestos. As this talc' "crisis" developed, many consumers switched to powders that were talc-free and that contained mainly corn starch. The Federal government and the cosmetic industry quickly examined the safety of talc. The problems were found to be due to the asbestos contamination in talc. Today, all the talc produced has all traces of aabestos~?emovedT^~~~~ A great deal of circumstantial evidence shows that the perineal use of talc powder by women may be associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer, This occurrence does not sees to be related to asbestos, A significant number of physicians are advising women to refrain from periheaI~tSTe dusting. There are occasional reports of chronic overuse of talc powder leading to pulmonary fibrosis, ^ h e r e does not appear to be any medical justification for this alleged prd&TimT ~ :-- -- ---- -- -- -- The so-called safety problem was an issue principally cr. the .S, in the early 1970`s. it led to some marketers having both talc-based and corn starch-based body powders available to the consumers. Talc is still the over whelming choice of users. The only other~cbunrTe!"that have sKowfTW^~~negatIve aspects towards talc are the U.K. , Ar^dTitTHa, and Columbia! -- . /^?p QE-CPC00004493 During the production and manufacture of talc it is important that it be properly treated to kill any micro organisms that may be present during mining. Dry heat, steam, ethylene oxide and gamma irradiation are used. Therefore, there generally is no residual microorganism problem. Nonetheless, some marketers add an anti bacterial preservative to safeguard against that problem. STARCH Natural firvrn starch is a possible substitute for talc in body powders. Starch is a good absorbant for surface moisture on the skin butJLt tends to "ball-up" on the skin. Natural corn starch doe? not? have as "velvety" a feel as talc. Further more^ it is~'ffdt as free-flowing a powder as talc and, there fore, so-called flow agents fi.e., tricalcium phosphate) must be added to the"starcK. There are available modified starches which have improved feel properties both in the dry and wet stages. However, these modified starches are significantly more "expenSive~tHan natural starch and__are not usedl THerg~~~tsn't a product anywhere in the world being marketed with these modified starches. There are products being marketed in the U.$. by Johnson & Johnson, Mennen and Lehn & Fink that contain natural corn starch. The first two manufacturers have both talc-based and starch-based body powders being sold for essentially the same price per ounce. Diaparene by Lehn & Fink is "100% talc free" (contains corn starch). One of its package claims is: "pediatricians surveyed preferred corn starcn :i over talc". Corn starch is an excellent nutrient for almost all micro- organisims which are indigenous""on^EKe human--skin:-- -tk w -ally "antibacterial"preservative' is added to corn ~gtarch-based body powders".-"- " ` "" L CONCLUSION: Talc should be the overwhelming choice as a base for body ffowder being contemplated tor marketing anywhere in the~ world fi.e., u.~S., Europe, So. America and Asia) . At the present time there is no overwhelming "crisis" anywhere in the world on the use 61 talc. ' k We previously mentioned some minor concerns by consumers and/or physicians in the U.S., U.K., Argentina, and Columbia, in these areas natural corn starch line extension products are available in addition to the talcbased flagship product. 2. QE-CPC00004494