PROVIDENCE — Claire’s, a national jewelry and accessory retailer for young girls, has pulled 12 makeup products from store shelves after the Scientific Analytical Institute lab in Greensboro, North Carolina found tremolite asbestos -a cancer-causing substance – in the products sold in nine cities in the United States, including Providence.
Products in Providence, Greensboro, Seattle, Chicago, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York City were tested at the lab after Kristiana Warner, operations manager of the Deaton Law Firm in East Providence specializing in asbestos litigation sent her daughter’s glitter makeup kit to the lab for testing.
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The makeup, which Warner had purchased at Providence Place mall, contained toxic tremolite asbestos – a substance well known to the staff at the law office.
Warner contacted the managing partner of the firm, John Deaton, and the two collected 17 random Claire’s-brand makeup products from stores throughout the United States.
“All tested positive for asbestos fibers at alarming rates,” Deaton said. “These samples were purchased off the shelves within the last two weeks in nine different states. The items include eye shadows, blushes and compact powders.”
On Dec. 23, Claire’s posted on their Twitter account that they were recalling the products while they investigated the lab’s findings.
“At Claire’s, the safety of our customers is of paramount importance, and we are passionate about the safety and integrity of our products. We work closely with our vendors to ensure our products are tested and assessed in line with the relevant country regulations and guidelines. As a result of today’s inquiry from WJAR-TV NBC 10, we have taken the precautionary measure of pulling the items in question from sale and will be conducting an immediate investigation into the alleged issues. Once we have more information and have the results of the investigation, we will take the necessary action,” the company wrote.
While the FDA does not comment on investigations, they do ask consumers to report incidents, usually immediately noticeable reactions, to the agency, said Lauren Sucher, press officer at the FDA office of media relations.
Federal law does not require cosmetic products and ingredients, other than color additives, to have FDA approval before they go on the market, but the agency does regulate existing cosmetics marketed in the United States are the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, Sucher said.
There are three Claire’s stores in Rhode Island including the Providence Place Mall location. The other two are at the Warwick Mall, 400 Bald Hill Road, Warwick, and at The Crossing at Smithfield, 371 Putnam Pike, Suite 510, Smithfield.
The lab, in a letter to Deaton, summarized its findings for each sample, which included Tremolite in the Aqua Glitter kit sold in Providence, Greensboro, N.C., Seattle, Indianapolis, Chicago and Milwaukee.
The products recalled were:
- Aqua Glitter Kits
- Claire’s Jeweled Heart Kit
- Pink Flip Phone Kit
- Pink Jeweled Star Kit
- Pink Jeweled Rectangle Kit
- Pink Glitter Kit
- Pink Jeweled Star Kit
- Pink Sparkly Heart Kit
- Shiny Black Plastic Makeup Kit with Handle
- Pink Glittery Makeup Kit with Fold Closure
- Claire’s Eyeshadow Palette
- Pink Sparkly Heart Kit
For a complete list of area Claire’s stores, consult the company’s store locator.
Rob Borkowski is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Borkowski@PBN.com.
