On May 19, 2020, Johnson & Johnson announced it would pull its talc-based Baby Powder from both the US and Canadian markets. Despite this move, company executives will not admit its talc-based products pose any health risks to consumers.
In 2018, J&J faced extreme pressure when news outlets reported the company knowingly sold talc powders with asbestos. According to J&J lab tests, most talc used in these baby powders had some trace of the cancer-causing substance.
In J&J’s most recent statement, executives argued they decided to remove talc-based baby powder after reviewing their products during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company claimed “misinformation” spread about talc powder’s safety was a significant reason for sales declines in North America.
Since news of the potential asbestos in J&J’s talc powder broke, customers filed over 19,000 lawsuits throughout North America. Most of these cases are now pending before New Jersey’s district judge.
The majority of cases brought against J&J allege the company’s talc-based baby powder caused mesothelioma or another type of lung cancer. Many women who used J&J’s talc powder also claim this product was a key contributor to ovarian cancer.
Talc-based baby powder was one of J&J’s staple products with a history going back to the 1890s. Despite this product’s high status, it only represented about 0.5 percent of its total US sales per year.
Although J&J won’t sell talc baby powder in North America, it will continue selling cornstarch-based powders.
