Document 6DN9QyxGjJZ2eNrDzXOrpRDm

FILE NAME: Talc (TALC) DATE: 1975 Mar 17 DOC#: TALC089 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Article from Food Chemical News FDA Delays Action on Asbestos-Containing Talc in Food M arch 17 , 197 5 Page 53 FOOD CHEMICAL NEWS FDA DELAYS ACTION ON ASBESTOS-CONTAINING TALC IN FOOD d e?ly any a ctio n on its long-pending proposal to in stitu te such a ban (See FOOD CHEMICAL NEWS, O ct. 1, 1973, Page 37). At the same tim e, FDA withdrew its proposal to tie the "generally ^ co^ nlf u se of talc in food-packaging paper and paperboard to the ab sen ce - e s t o s form p a rtic le s. The agency also reaffirmed its decision not to propose lim itations o of asbestos-containing filters in food and beverage processing. The agency did issu e 3 ^ ^ 7 7 7 ^ -^2rssB1?s vfFWS O rt 22 1973 , Page 18; Dec. 3, 1973, Page L, Dec. iu , is o, y 24 197? P a g e '2i; l a L 79 1974, Page 30; Jan. 14, 1974, Page 30; and Feb. 18, 1974 , Page 16). FDA noted th at it p la n s, in conjunction w ith o th e r 9en ie s J e x l^ " " et " PerTMn<: " ^ e to determine if ^ or other data are available, the agency conchmied^Uhat* a f T ^ o n of L use of - - s t o s - c o n t a i n i ^ f i l t e r s ^ t h e p ro cessing of food and b e v e ra g e s, and of a s b e s t s ' " n`" " 9laot o su fficien t d a ta ," additive or in drugs or drug ingredients is unwarranted due to lack ol suit Industry In v estig atio n s Urged_b^D A _ " rTM d 7 " processing of this ty p e." As e x p ec te d , FDA decided to delay any fin al reguM tions f o r a t a ^ ^ ^ T t h i s method for determining the presence of asbestos partici agency said it is su b sta n c e" (See FOOD CHEMICAL NEWS, Feb. 17, Page 32). The agency s actively pursuing research on methodology. FDA did not agree w ith comments "th at the ds.ig ^ e ^ is unreliable when used by those experienced in the art ^ut 9 dicTrecognize "that and effective compliance method must have greater utility and acceptance m by the comments on the proposed method. M ost of those who commented did " ^ 5 ^ $ " ""pe^onT '' but re fle cted th eir g eneral e x p e , i TM 1,"17 e " Po Sed method wa's supported in none preference for other analytical m ethods. P- thp difficulty in using the of the com m ents. M ost com m only-expressedf Ob;ec; ton w a s l n ln9con_ method. A collaborative study by members o method, the agency sisten t results , and four of the ten participants could not use tne m , sa id . A March 1 , "Although detection w as limited by the u such as fresh wrapped and Page 55 FOOD CHEMICAL NEWS , h recovered from other p rod u cts, d macaroni, dried milk, rice that these products contain less than 10 p . p . b . a s b e s to s unue. -- ion of asbestos^rom ^oo^-oontacT pap'eran^paP ^^bbrd/^F D ^^^^^ed^th^the^conc^lus^on S sffi -ssssS k B t s i = ^ = (6%), as compared to reported levels or a paperboard." s,r,s : = : = - of asbestos tilters m -- .. , . ,. .. n i jnnt_ fto4-^vis4souqeu ea 3 r. ergujl"U.lstion r ^ r o f = r our r/sbestos, ^ -* "The C om m issioner ag rees that un^ TM d^ g try_w ide b a s is , reg u latio n s should be ad P^ dava ilab le reproducible m ethod- In this in stan c e , the lack o flbers in beverages and ology for determining asbes^ to propose the regulation other foods led ^ C o m m s s x ^ rto _ Jn any event, of talc before handling oth com m issioner S iS S - as a direct food or drug in g recdlienntt.." .o f fibers to foods ana background levels u d the "contro- Noting its analysis of the ;T fm " f 1 s b e s t eonsfib e r s < d s " d - " P " 6 "16" % t r e 0* : sbestos Iters C ***'*** -- FDA concluded tha - nr . . . . . The promulgation f " p-- prohibition of the use o and of the amount of f s " f t r r r t ea?cefor u se in food and drugs or w hich