Johnson & Johnson to Stop Selling Talc-Based Baby Powder After Thousands of Lawsuits Cause Decrease In Demand

Johnson & Johnson to Stop Selling Talc-Based Baby Powder After Thousands of Lawsuits Cause Decrease In Demand

Raihana Asral // Shutterstock

photo credit: Raihana Asral // Shutterstock

Johnson and Johnson will finally end its sales of talc-based baby powder in the U.S. and Canada, but still continue sales overseas.

Over the years, the company has faced about 19,400 lawsuits against the baby powered claiming it has caused users to develop ovarian cancer or mesothelioma, which is a cancer of the lungs and other organs. As a result of the lawsuits, the demand for the talc-based baby powder has drastically decreased.

Even with the claims, Johnson and Johnson insists, and the overwhelming majority of medical research on talc indicates, that the talc baby powder is safe and doesn’t cause cancer.

Due to the decrease in demand, the company will discontinue the product and instead, continue to sell their cornstarch-based baby powder. 

Of the cases that have been tried, J&J has had 12 wins, 15 losses and seven mistrials. All of the losses have either been overturned on appeal or are still being appealed.

J&J spokeswoman Kimberly Montagnino said the company doesn’t plan to settle any of the lawsuits and “will continue to vigorously defend” the product.

Written by Clarke Jones

Source: WNCT

Facebook

Instagram