Claire’s Under Additional Scrutiny as Dutch Inspectors Check for Mesothelioma Risk from Makeup

Retailer “Claire’s” continues to face intense scrutiny from people who want to make sure that teens are safe from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

The company, whose retail accessory stores are ubiquitous in America’s malls, has been in the news ever since December 2016 when a consumer had her daughter’s Claire’s brand makeup tested for asbestos and the results came back positive.

Since then, other investigations have been launched in the U.S., and now Dutch health and safety authorities are also on the case. After finding traces of asbestos in the same products, they have ordered them withdrawn from the market in the Netherlands.

The asbestos found in the Claire’s products has been identified as the tremolite variety, which has been shown to cause malignant mesothelioma.

According to  the Dutch Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate, they had planned to investigate the products shortly after the American findings were first reported, but they postponed their investigation following assurances from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that the products were safe.

After additional reports they pursued their analysis, and their inspections found 2% and 5% asbestos in a Claire’s face powder product and 0.1 to 2% asbestos in a contouring powder. Saying that “there is risk to health,” the safety authority ordered that the products be removed from the 32 branches of Claire’s found in the Netherlands. It is asking the company to also check all of its other products and remove any that contain the same raw materials.

Mesothelioma has taken its toll on the Netherlands, and as a result the country has taken a hard line on asbestos use. The material was banned nearly 24 years ago, and now has ordered all asbestos roofing be removed by January 1 of 2024.

According to David de Vreede, a technical advisor for the Dutch group Committee for asbestos victims, “The goal is no asbestos in the country, but that will take a long time.”

The protective actions taken by health advocacy groups is a direct response to the negligence that caused mesothelioma in previous generations. If you or someone you love has been affected by mesothelioma, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today to learn how we can help. You can reach us at 1-800-692-8608.

Written by Terri Oppenheimer

Terri Heimann Oppenheimer is the head writer of our Mesothelioma.net news blog. She graduated from the College of William and Mary with a degree in English. Terri believes that knowledge is power and she is committed to sharing news about the impact of mesothelioma, the latest research and medical breakthroughs, and victims’ stories.

Learn more about and contact Terri