Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is currently facing legal action from thousands of individuals in the UK who are alleging that the global healthcare giant knowingly sold talcum powder contaminated with asbestos. More than 3,000 people claim that they or a family member developed ovarian cancer or mesothelioma from using Johnson’s baby powder between 1965 and 2023.
A lawsuit has been initiated by KP Law at the High Court in London seeking damages against J&J and Kenvue UK, which separated from the former in 2023 and now functions as an independent entity. The lawsuit contends that J&J’s product was tainted with carcinogenic fibers, including asbestos, and that the company concealed this risk from the public for many years. J&J ceased selling talc-based baby powder in the US in 2020, transitioning to a cornstarch product, and replicated this globally in 2023.
Kenvue has released a statement asserting that J&J baby powder did not contain asbestos and does not cause cancer. Meanwhile, J&J is confronted with tens of thousands of lawsuits in the United States, where plaintiffs claim they were diagnosed with cancer after using baby powder and other talc products. Recently, J&J was directed to pay $966 million (£720 million) to the family of a woman who passed away from mesothelioma, marking one of the largest judgments against the company, although the sum might be subject to reduction upon appeal.
The legal claim being made revolves around the assertion that talc, a naturally occurring mineral, typically contains asbestos. Michael Rawlinson KC, representing the claimants, contends that very few, if any, commercially exploited talc deposits worldwide are free from asbestos. He further alleges that J&J was aware of the asbestos contamination through reports from mines, its own research, and existing scientific literature. Rawlinson claims that the company suppressed information indicating asbestos contamination in baby powder, lobbied regulators to permit continued sales, and sponsored studies to downplay health risks.
Janet Fuschillo, a claimant, disclosed that she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer seven years ago and had been using J&J’s baby powder since the 1960s. Patricia Angell shared that her husband Edward passed away in 2006 from mesothelioma, with talc mentioned in his autopsy report along with asbestos strains found in contaminated talc. Mesothelioma, a type of cancer, is predominantly caused by asbestos exposure, typically affecting the lungs after inhaling microscopic fibers.
A spokesperson from Kenvue expressed sympathy for individuals battling cancer and emphasized the safety of Johnson’s baby powder, highlighting extensive testing by independent laboratories, universities, and health authorities worldwide. The spokesperson affirmed that the cosmetic-grade talc used in Johnson’s baby powder adhered to regulatory standards, was asbestos-free, and does not cause cancer.
SOURCE