New Delhi: The Johnson & Johnson has refuted the reports by the Rajasthan Drugs Control Organisation that company’s baby shampoo samples conianed formaldehyde. According to a notice by the organisation, dated March 5, samples taken from two batches of baby shampoo were found to have “harmful ingredients.” These findings have been rejected by the company, according to reports by Reuters. 

Stating that the company has contested the interim test results of the drug watchdog’s findings, a company spokesperson said that the results of the tests showed the presence of formaldehyde in the samples. She iterated that the products of the company are “safe” and that their assurance process is “amongst the most rigorous in the world.” She added that the results were based on “unknown and unspecified methods.”

She clarified that it was confirmed to the authorities that the company does not add formaldehyde in the shampoo nor does its product “contain any ingredient that can release formaldehyde over time.”

According to the notice issued by The Rajasthan Drugs Control Organisation, the two batches from which the samples were taken, were produced at the company’s manufacturing plant in Himachal Pradesh and are due to expire in September 2021.

It may be recalled that Johnson & Johnson found itself in the centre of a controversy a few months ago, when the carcinogenic substance, asbestos was reportedly found in the company’s baby powder. An investigation was also launched by the government authorities. However, the company resumed production of the baby powder after no asbestos was found.