ALL TALCUM POWDERS TO BE DESTROYED

Chronicle (Levin), 7 June 1946, Page 4

ALL TALCUM POWDERS TO BE DESTROYED

-Press Association

— ■ DECISION OF MAKERS AFTER CONFERENCE

Rv Telearavh-

WELLINGTON, Jmie 6. "Tlio Health Department lias kept-iu very elose. toueh witli the positiou an.d cloes not consitler the infection of talevni powder in this way could have heen foreseen. It does not eonsider any particular blame can be attributed to the manufacturers of the poxvder, r' said Ur. P. »S. MacLean, Director of the Division of Puhlic Hygiene, when aduiessing a Dominion emergency cpnferer.ee of cosmetic and toilet preparation manufacturers in Wellington today, to investigate the recent tetanus inl'eetions. "The recent cases are most regrettable," Dr. MacLean continued. "With the steps already taken by the Health Department and the assistance. of all manufacturers, it can be copfidently sr.id there should be 110 recurrenees of tlu- infection." O11 bchalt of all manufacturers, -Mr. Wilfred B. Owen, president of the New . Zealand Cosmetic and Toilet Preparation Manufacturers' Association, e?pressed the industry's deep regret at the unfortunate happenlngs. The Health Department, he said, could be assured of the full cooperation of all in taking every precaution to safeguard against any" similar futtire oeeurrence. " Talcum powders, " Mr. Owen said, "have been extensively used in every part of the world for one might say ■ hundreds of years. To the best of the industry's knowledge, medical statistics do not record one such prexdoiis case of tetanus infection over this lcngthv period of usage." Dr. MacLean reported that the dejiartmeut had taken every step to prevent further infection, among the steps taken being a warning to all maternity hospital licensees ahd obstetrical nurses that they must not use any powder as a dressing for a baby's eord unlc ss it had been adequately sterilised by heat. Following very full eonsideration of future preventive nieasuresy it.was'anj nonnced that the manufacturers Vqf ' buby powders were yoTuntarily. i diawing from retailgri antt whol&s^leTs all their proiirietaiy.braiid "stodhstwh&h would bc destroyed. Supplies ^oiild r.ot again be f ortheoniring» #jr until talcum for future supplies had been subjected to a process of steriHsatidn. All future consignments of importe'd talcum to be used in the manufacture ot dustiug powders, would be tested bacterioiogicallv in New Zealand in conjunction with the Health Dcpart- . ment, and if found to be infected, would be adequately sterilised. Steps : would also be taken immediately to ea- ! sure all high grade talcum exportcd from overseas to New Zealand for i manufacture of dusting powders, wouH be packed in clean containers that had not previously been used for any other purpose. It. is pointed out by the Health Department that dusting powders, includj ing baby powders, are manufactured ! only for use on healthy unbroken sltitt. They are not intended for use as surgical dressings and should not be so used. There is a minimum of risk of infection from talcum when nsed in 01'dinarv toilet as a dusting powder. Mr! Owen said, in response to an ; inquiry, that tlie calling in of stocks did not apply to toilet powders other tlian baby powders. Face powders so , far submitted to test had proved free of infection but it had been agreed by tlie manufacturers that all such powders should be tested and if any infection was found 111 a brand, that ' brand would be withdrawn from sale. "Actually," added Mr. Owen, "only two brands of baby powder among those so far tested have shown the presence of tetanus infection."