The Food and Drug Administration has missed its own self-imposed April deadline to release a proposed ban on formaldehyde in hair-straightening products, despite mounting evidence linking the chemical to cancer risk – particularly among Black women who frequently use such products.
The long-awaited proposal emerged after wide-ranging studies found an association between ingredients found in many hair-smoothing and straightening treatments marketed to Black consumers and increased rates of uterine cancer and other illnesses.
A 2022 study by the National Institutes of Health tracking over 33,000 Black women over decades revealed higher uterine cancer rates among those regularly using hair relaxers containing formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing agents.
These findings have spurred thousands of women to join class-action lawsuits against major beauty brands like L’Oreal and Revlon, alleging their hair products caused uterine cancer and severe health issues. Revlon has denied any scientific link, while L’Oreal stated it does not use formaldehyde but would welcome an FDA ban.
“Our highest priority is the health and wellbeing of all our consumers,” the company said in a statement. “Our products are subject to a rigorous scientific evaluation of their safety by experts who also ensure that we strictly follow all regulations in every market in which we operate.”
Formaldehyde is widely used in household and personal care items despite its classification as a known carcinogen linked to various cancers by the National Cancer Institute. Studies indicate around 50% of hair products marketed to Black women contain formaldehyde-releasing agents compared to just 7% for those aimed at white consumers.
The FDA has not provided any explanation for missing the April target date it set last year for proposing formaldehyde restrictions in certain hair-straightening products amid rising public health concerns, particularly within the Black community frequently exposed to these chemicals.
Information from NBC News contributed to this report