Honest Recalls Baby Powder Due To Possible Contamination
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
The Honest Company recalls all lots of its Organic Baby Powder following routine testing that indicated potential contamination with unsavory microorganisms. FDA scrutiny could follow.
The Honest Company, Inc. could be on FDA’s radar following its voluntary baby powder recall due to potential contamination risks.
The firm is pulling all lots of its Organic Baby Powder under action initiated Jan. 6, according to its website.
Routine testing of the powder product – marketed as enabling users to “keep your baby's bum delightfully dry – natural, safe, and super easy!” – showed evidence of potential microbial contamination, “including some species associated with skin infections or eye infections,” Honest says.
“The product may therefore present a possible health risk,” it adds.
In a video posted to the firm’s Honestly blog Jan. 11, co-founder Christopher Gavigan notes that Honest products are tested regularly for safety, and the potential problem was identified through such testing.
“With the full knowledge of and under the guidance of the FDA we decided to voluntarily recall this product out of an abundance of caution,” he says. “I sincerely apologize for this inconvenience. This decision, like all of our decisions, was guided by our ongoing commitment to the health and well-being and satisfaction of our customers.”
FDA has not yet posted a recall notice for the Honest powder, but cosmetic product recalls that earn its attention often lead to closer agency scrutiny, including facility inspections.
In a letter last year to Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., FDA’s Acting Associate Commissioner for Legislation Dayle Cristinzio noted that between 20% and 25% of cosmetic-related inspections each year are based on “prior compliance activity,” for instance targeting manufacturers that have recalled products, received warning letters or turned out products linked to adverse event reports. (Also see "FDA Divulges Cosmetics Enforcement Data, Notes Hair Loss As ‘Serious’ AE" - HBW Insight, 3 Nov, 2016.)
It’s not clear what caused the contamination issue for Honest or where in the supply chain it originated.
The presence of microorganisms can point to preservation failures. Many baby powders aren’t formulated with preservatives because they are dry formulations and consumers aren’t dipping their fingers in the products to apply them, cutting down on the risk of contamination through consumer use.
Honest’s ingredient list for Organic Baby Powder includes yogurt-derived probiotic lactobacillus bulgaricus lysate extract, which could be included to help protect the product from becoming tainted with unsavory microbes. Online sources suggest that “friendly” bacteria can serve in this capacity in consumer products.
The product’s other ingredients include zea mays (corn starch), maranta arundinacea (arrowroot) powder, kaolin clay, sodium bicarbonate, aloe barbadensis (aloe) vera and salvia sclarea (clary sage) oil.
Corn starch-based formulations are becoming more popular for powder products following numerous lawsuits alleging a link between talc in Johnson & Johnson powder offerings and ovarian cancer. (Also see "Not Just J&J’s Problem: The Evolving Talc Litigation Landscape" - HBW Insight, 13 Dec, 2016.)
The Organic Baby Powder is certified organic by USDA. Honest joined the Organic Trade Association in June 2016, potentially signaling interest in moving away from “natural” claims – which lack defined regulatory or even industry standards – following a slew of false-advertising suits calling its related marketing into question. (Also see "Nervous About ‘Natural’? Honest Company Heads For Organic Pastures" - HBW Insight, 11 Jul, 2016.)
Since its inception in 2011, Honest has grown substantially on its “safe products” marketing platform. The Santa Monica, Calif.-based startup, fronted by actress and co-founder Jessica Alba, was valued at $1.7bn in 2015.
Honest’s Organic Baby Powder retails for $11.95 for 4oz. No other products in its lineup are impacted by the recall.
The company is inviting consumers to return the product at issue for a full refund, but consumer comments on Honest’s blog signal that refunds may not be top of mind for powder purchasers.
“My daughter has serious rashes all over her face, back, stomach. She has it everywhere. How serious is this infection?” asks one commenter, adding, “I took tons of pics.”
Another states, “I've been using this powder on my son for the last two months. He is now 3m old and has an unexplained, undiagnosed rash. Hoping this contaminated powder is not the cause.”
It’s been speculated that pending litigation and negative PR have dragged on Honest’s plans for an initial public offering, which it has been eyeing for years now. Other reports have cited the possibility of a buyout, with Unilever PLC previously named as a firm engaged in discussions. (Also see "They’re Just Like Us! Honest Celeb Brand’s Illusory Persona Fading" - HBW Insight, 30 Nov, 2016.)