Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer:
Johnson & Johnson will no longer be selling its talc-based baby powder in North America. For decades Johnson & Johnson's name has been synonymous both with its soft baby powder, something we associate with sweet-smelling babies. Over the years, the brand extended that goodwill to bring many other baby products to the market. Then in the 1980's, consumer advocacy groups raised the concern that asbestos, a known carcinogen, could contaminate talc. Researchers first linked asbestos to ovarian cancer in 1958.
Asbestos in Talc
Asbestos can contaminate talc when mined because then can intermingle underground. For decades Johnson & Johnson blamed shoddy testing and faulty equipment for claims that asbestos contaminated its baby powder. But in December 2018, separate investigations by the New York Times and Reuters revealed documents from Johnson & Johnson showing that the company knew about asbestos concerns in its baby powder for decades.Reuters reported, "From at least 1971 to the early 2000s, the company's raw talc and finished powders sometimes tested positive for small amounts of asbestos, and that company executives, mine managers, scientists, doctors, and lawyers fretted over the problem and how to address it while failing to disclose it to regulators or the public." Johnson & Johnson now faces more than 16,000 talc-related lawsuits claiming it caused ovarian and other reproductive cancers in women. In 2018, a St. Louis jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $4.7 billion to 22 women who sued alleging the baby powder caused their cancers. And last year in California, a jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay a woman $29 million for her mesothelioma claim.
Johnson & Johnson Has Stopped Selling Talc-Based Powder
With the news that Johnson & Johnson has removed talc from its products due to concerns about asbestos contamination, it will only sell cornstarch-based powder. Baby and health products are no longer the bulk of Johnson & Johnson's business; half of its revenues now come from pharmaceuticals. Johnson & Johnson also faces thousands of lawsuits related to the production, marketing, and sale of opioids.If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer that you believe may be related to using Johnson & Johnson's talcum baby powder, call the Madeksho Firm at 888-910-6376 or contact us through our online form. Your consultation is free, and you never pay a fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
