Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder faces massive legal lawsuit in UK after cancer allegations
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Famous baby-talc brand Johnson and Johnson are at the bitter end of a legal case being mounted by hundreds of British women regarding the allegations that the product is carcinogenic.
There are reports that a total of nearly 2,000 women, as well as families of victims will be signing up to the lawsuit against the major global brand. Despite previous lawsuits being raised against the company, this will be the first time in the UK and is set to take the record for the largest legal action in UK history.The lawsuit has sparked widespread attention and calls for greater corporate accountability. This case marks a significant milestone in global litigation against the healthcare giant.
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is a huge American multinational pharmaceutical, biotechnological, and medical company. However, over recent years it has been at the brunt of serious criticism regarding one of its most well-loved products: talcum powder for babies. The famous powder, which is made from a naturally occurring mineral, was found to contain particles of asbestos according to some studies, which is a notorious carcinogen causing cancers when repeatedly inhaled or ingested. In 2020, the product was revoked in the US and Canada and last year, 2023, the company were set to discontinue the product globally, shifting the cosmetic product from being talc-based to cornstarch-based – a composition, which is already sold around the world.
Johnson and Johnson forced to pay out billions in US for talc allegations
In a lawsuit which shook America, Johnson and Johnson were forced to pay out billions of dollars to women who had contracted ovarian cancer and who had been using Johnson’s Baby Powder, thus attributing the disease to the product. The powder has been a much-loved product: many UK and US women recall it being used on them as babies and then having developed the habit of using it as adults and on their own children as a family home staple. However, reports that it contained asbestos fibres has spelt chaos for the company and tragedy for many women as the particles can sit in soft tissue causing permanent and severe cellular damage and inflammation – eventually resulting in potential cancer. This was backed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in July, who affirmed that mineral talc was “probably carcinogenic for humans.”
In 2023, Johnson and Johnson discontinued the sale of baby talc
Back in 2023, Johnson and Johnson denied the allegations, despite discontinuing the product and maintained their stance in the cosmetic world. They said: “Our position on the safety of our cosmetic talc remains unchanged. We stand firmly behind the decades of independent scientific analysis by medical experts around the world that confirms talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer.” Countless cases against Johnson & Johnson have been inconclusive and have not followed through. It is believed that ‘recall bias’ on behalf of revoked products may be to blame for some of the claims and that in several cases, there was no evidence to proof use of the talc or connection to ovarian cancer cases.
Johnson and Johnson “knew for decades” about asbestos in its powder
On the other side of the table, Tom Longstaff, a partner at KP Law, who will be representing the women involved in the lawsuit said: “This once-trusted corporation knew for decades that the asbestos in its talc products was present, that it was dangerous, but did nothing to notify consumers of the risk.” He added: “We are committed to helping as many people as possible achieve justice in the UK for the actions of profit-hungry executives in US boardrooms.”
It remains to be seen whether this family favourite brand will have its name tarnished in the latest allegations and whether it will in fact damage the practice of using talcum powder altogether.
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