Johnson & Johnson to Discontinue Talc-Based Baby Powder in U.S. and Canada Amid Ongoing Litigation

[Global Times Report] According to a Reuters report on the 20th, US-based Johnson & Johnson announced on the 19th local time that it would stop selling a talc-containing baby powder product in the United States and Canada. However, the company will continue to sell cornstarch-based baby powder in North America and will keep offering both talc- and cornstarch-based products in other markets worldwide.

The U.S. company stated that it will gradually reduce sales of talc-based baby powder products in the coming months, although retailers may continue to sell existing inventory. The report revealed that this product accounts for approximately 0.5% of the company’s U.S. consumer health business.

Reuters said Johnson & Johnson is facing more than 16,000 consumer lawsuits alleging that its talc-based products, including baby powder, cause cancer.

The lawsuit alleges that Johnson & Johnson’s talc products contain asbestos, a known carcinogen. However, citing “decades of scientific research,” Johnson & Johnson continues to express confidence in the safety of its talc-based baby powder.

Johnson & Johnson also stated that it would continue to sell cornstarch-based baby powder in North America and would market both its talc-based and cornstarch-based products in other global markets.

Nor is this the first time Johnson’s Baby Powder has sparked controversy. As early as July 2018, a jury in a court in St. Louis, Missouri, ruled that Johnson & Johnson must pay $4.69 billion in damages to 22 women and their families. The jury stated that Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based products, such as baby powder, contained carcinogenic asbestos fibers, and that these 22 women developed ovarian cancer after years of using such products. At the time, Johnson & Johnson announced it would appeal. In February 2019, Johnson & Johnson also received a subpoena from the U.S. government over concerns related to its baby powder.