Johnson and Johnson Talcum Powder Lawsuit

Johnson and Johnson Talcum Powder Lawsuit Attorneys call 954-384-6114.

Johnson and Johnson Pull’s Talc Baby Powder Off the Shelves As It Settles Cancer Claims

Johnson and Johnson talc lawsuit

Johnson & Johnson, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the U.S., has announced its decision to no longer sell their talc-based baby powder in the United States and Canada.  Although Johnson and Johnson claimed that demand had fallen due to “misinformation” as to the powder’s safety, this decision was motivated by the fact that the FDA, in at least three tests by three different labs from 1972 to 1975 had found asbestos in its talc. In fact, evidence also shows that talc, even into the early 2000s, tested positive for small amounts of asbestos.

Asbestos has been labeled a known human carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute  as well as the Department of Health and Human Services with noticeable links to certain types of cancers such as  mesothelioma, a cancer that forms in the lining of the tissue in the heart, lungs or abdomen as well as ovarian cancer and fallopian tube cancer.

Many of the talcum powder plaintiffs point to studies from the 1970s linking talc to cancer, when scientists in Wales discovered particles of talc embedded in ovarian and cervical tumors. Johnson & Johnson still makes a variety of baby powder with talc, although most baby powder is now made with cornstarch. Image created by Oppenheim Law

The Testing Fiasco | Johnson and Johnson Baby Powder Cancer

Due to asbestos’s high risk of causing cancer, Johnson & Johnson has routinely tested their baby powder for this carcinogen. The tests they have carried out have not allegedly found asbestos in their baby powder. To carry out and report the findings of these tests to the court, they hired the laboratory director of AMA Analytical Services, Andreas Saldivar, to serve as Johnson & Johnson’s expert witness. Saldivar has been working for Johnson & Johnson since 2017, serving the company in litigation and reporting no traces of asbestos on previous tests on marked bottles. However, in 2019, Saldivar’s lab tested an unmarked container of baby powder, following an FDA request, and found traces of asbestos. The container was then revealed to be baby powder from Johnson & Johnson.

After the FDA alerted Johnson & Johnson in October, 2019 of the results showing asbestos in their container of baby powder, the healthcare giant reacted by issuing a voluntary recall of lot #22318RB which included 33,000 containers. Johnson & Johnson stated this was done “out of an abundance of caution”, and rightly so as the FDA has said, “there are no known safe levels of asbestos.” According to Reuters, some major U.S. retailers have followed a similar course of action and removed all 22-ounce containers from their shelves. Nevertheless, it did not take long for Johnson & Johnson to reconsider their situation and make another decision. On May 19, 2020, Johnson and Johnson decided to stop the sale of talc-based baby powder in the United States and Canada, a decision probably motivated by the thousands of lawsuits pending before a U.S. District Court in New Jersey claiming that talc caused their mesothelioma and ovarian cancer.

Making Amends | Johnson and Johnson Baby Powder Lawsuit Settlement

Two years ago, lawsuit against Johnson and Johnson awarded $4.69 billion to 22 women as compensation for damages for asbestos found in its mineral talc, yet there is still time to act. Although Johnson & Johnson is discontinuing its North American sales of its talc-based baby powder, it still faces nearly 12, 000 lawsuits across the country claiming that the talc in the baby powder causes cancer.  If you suffer from ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, or mesothelioma and have used Johnson & Johnson talcum powder, you may be entitled to financial compensation.

Our team at Oppenheim Law recognizes the emotional burden these complications can have on families. That is why our firm provides a team of professionals committed to zealously represent our clients.

Please feel free to contact us at (954) 384-6114 so we can inform you of your legal rights so you can obtain the compensation to which you are entitled.