Levels of Lead in Lipsticks

FDA will investigate claim that some lipsticks contain potentially dangerous levels of lead. It would look into claims from an advocacy group that certain lipsticks contain potentially dangerous levels of lead." The agency is proceeding cautiously because "[s]imilar claims in the past have not been confirmed."

According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, "a third of the 33 red lipsticks examined by an independent lab contained a level of lead exceeding 0.1 parts per million -- which is the FDA's limit for lead in candy."

Currently, the FDA "does not set a limit for lead in lipstick." The group aims "to pressure companies to remove toxic chemicals from their products, and replace them with safer alternatives."

"The lipstick samples were randomly collected in four cities -- Boston, Hartford, Conn., San Francisco, [and] Minneapolis -- and tested by Bodycote Testing Group in Santa Fe Springs, Calif."