Talc, or talcum, is a clay mineral, composed of hydrated magnesium silicate. Talc in powdered form, often combined with corn starch, is used by the personal care industry as an adsorbent and by the cosmetic industry in other types of powders and blushes. In the pharmaceutical industry, talc is used primarily as a glidant to improve powder flow in tablet compression. Talc has been reported to be used in some food products, and is generally recognized as safe by the FDA.