NEW DELHI: Johnson & Johnson’s baby shampoo has come under the regulatory lens with samples of the product collected in Rajasthan showing presence of “harmful ingredients” that may cause cancer . The Centre has put the product under scrutiny based on the Rajasthan state drug controller’s report, official sources said.

The company maintained that the shampoo was safe and in compliance with regulatory standards.

Rajasthan has ordered withdrawal of two batches of ‘No More Tears’ baby shampoo which were found to be “not of standard quality” and contaminated with formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde – identified as a substance that promotes formation of cancer in human body – is a colourless, strong-smelling chemical compound mainly used in making building materials and pressed wood products.

“Please ensure the quality of other batches and drugs of said manufacturers available in the market from time to time,” Drugs Controller of Rajasthan said in a letter to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)

TOI has reviewed the letter, which has been sent to drug regulators in other states as well, asking them to take shampoo bottles from the contaminated batches off the shelves immediately. Two batches – containing around 50,000 bottles each – were manufactured at J&J’s facility at Baddi, HP.

Rejecting the findings of the Rajasthan state drug regulator about presence of harmful ingredients in baby shampoo, J&J said, “We do not accept the interim results given to us which mentioned samples to contain harmful ingredients – identification positive for formaldehyde.

However, regulatory authorities told the newspaper The Times of India that the samples of baby shampoo picked up in Rajasthan contained ingredients which were on the “negative list of BIS standards” and were considered harmful for public health.