Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is going through authorized motion from hundreds of individuals within the UK who’re accusing the worldwide healthcare large of knowingly promoting talcum powder contaminated with asbestos.
Greater than 3,000 folks allege they or a member of the family developed types of ovarian most cancers or mesothelioma from utilizing Johnson’s child powder between 1965 and 2023.
A lawsuit has been filed by KP Regulation on the Excessive Courtroom in London looking for damages towards J&J and Kenvue UK, which was cut up from the previous in 2023 and now operates as a separate enterprise.
The lawsuit alleges J&J’s product was contaminated with carcinogenic fibres, together with asbestos, and the agency hid the chance to the general public for many years.
J&J stopped promoting talc-based child powder within the US in 2020, switching to a cornstarch product. It did the identical globally in 2023.
Kenvue mentioned in a press release that J&J child powder “did not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer”.
J&J is individually going through tens of hundreds of lawsuits in America, the place claimants allege they have been recognized with most cancers after utilizing child powder and different talc merchandise.
Final week, J&J was ordered to pay $966m (£720m) to the household of a girl who died from mesothelioma, one of many largest awards towards the agency, though the quantity may very well be lowered on attraction.
Damages awarded by UK courts are typically extra restricted.
What’s the authorized declare being made?
Talc is a naturally occurring mineral which is mined. However Michael Rawlinson KC, who’s representing the claimants, mentioned in court docket paperwork that “there exist very few, if any, commercially exploited talc deposits in the world which do not contain asbestos”.
He additionally alleged that stories from such mines, J&J’s personal analysis, and current scientific literature would all have knowledgeable J&J about asbestos contamination.
Regardless of this, Mr Rawlinson claimed the corporate “suppressed information that might indicate that baby powder was contaminated with asbestos”, “lobbied regulators” to allow the continued sale of its product, and sponsored research to “downplay the dangers” to human well being.
‘We have been informed talc was good for you’
Janet Fuschillo, one of many claimants, was recognized with ovarian most cancers seven years in the past.
The 75-year-old mentioned she used J&J’s child powder for the reason that Sixties: “I used talc on myself and all four of my children because we were told it was pure, and it was good for you.”
Patricia Angell mentioned her husband Edward died in 2006, aged 64, just a few weeks after being recognized with mesothelioma.
“He would come home from work and shower every day and use J&J’s talc,” she mentioned.
“Talc was mentioned on Edward’s autopsy report, along with asbestos strains found in contaminated talc.”
Mesothelioma, a type of most cancers, is nearly at all times brought on by asbestos publicity, in keeping with the NHS, and it generally varieties within the lungs after folks inhale the microscopic fibres.
Child powder ‘doesn’t trigger most cancers’
A Kenvue spokesperson mentioned: “We sympathise deeply with people living with cancer.
“We perceive that they and their households need solutions – that is why the details are so necessary.
“The safety of Johnson’s baby powder is backed by years of testing by independent and leading laboratories, universities and health authorities in the UK and around the world.
“The high-quality beauty grade talc that was utilized in Johnson’s child powder was compliant with any required regulatory requirements, didn’t include asbestos, and doesn’t trigger most cancers.”
