Thousands take legal action against Johnson & Johnson over talcum powder asbestos claims
Thousands of people in the UK are taking legal action against pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, claiming the company knowingly sold talcum powder contaminated with asbestos.
Up to 3,000 claimants allege that they or a family member developed ovarian cancer or mesothelioma due to the use of Johnson’s Baby Powder and are now seeking compensation in the High Court in London.
Johnson & Johnson, along with its current and former subsidiaries Johnson & Johnson Management and Kenvue UK, should be held liable, the group’s lawyers said in court documents filed Thursday.
They said J&J had been “hiding” cornstarch instead of talc in its baby powder for decades, since 2023 in the UK.
A spokesman for Kenvue, formerly part of J&J, said the talc used in the baby powder complies with regulations, does not contain asbestos and does not cause cancer.
Talc is a naturally occurring mineral extracted from the soil.
Michael Rawlinson KC, on behalf of the group making the claim, said in court documents that “there are very few commercially operated, asbestos-free talc deposits in the world and all the mines supplying the defendants contain asbestos”.
He also said his own research, as well as existing scientific literature and reports from such mines, would inform J&J about asbestos contamination.
Despite this, the lawyer added, the company “concealed information that could have shown that the baby powder was contaminated with asbestos.”
He also said J&J “lobbyed regulators” to ensure continued sale of its product and sponsored studies to “downplay the dangers” to human health.
Mr Rawlinson said J&J therefore “acted in bad faith to protect the reputation and profit-making potential of their baby powder and the goodwill attached to their name”.
Janet Fuschillo, one of the people involved in the case, said that she had been using J&J’s baby powder since the 1960s and that she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 7 years ago.
The 75-year-old said: “I used talc on myself and all four of my children as I was told that talc was pure and good for you.
“For nearly 50 years I have always used talc when changing diapers after bathing.
“It is a source of great concern and anger that I use talc on my children.
Patricia Angell said her husband, Edward, died at age 64 in 2006, just weeks after being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
She described him as a “healthy man in excellent shape” who worked as an electrician and knew about asbestos.
He said: “When he fell ill doctors asked him if he had come into contact with asbestos and he told them he had never.
“Every day he would come home from work, shower and use J&J talcum powder.
“But he always used it because we were told it was pure.
“Talc was also mentioned in Edward’s autopsy report, along with the types of asbestos found in the contaminated talc.”
She added that her children’s father was stolen and her husband’s 19-year life was “stolen”.
Mesothelioma, a type of cancer, is almost always caused by asbestos exposure and usually forms in the lungs after people inhale the microscopic fibres, according to the NHS.
Mr Rawlinson said the method of applying baby powder – squeezing or shaking the bottle – meant “clouds” of the powder remained airborne “for a very long time after use” and were inhaled by the person using it.
A Kenvue spokesperson said: “We deeply sympathize with people living with cancer.
“We know they and their families want answers, which is why the facts are so important.
“The safety of Johnson’s Baby Powder is supported by years of testing by independent, leading laboratories, universities and health authorities in the UK and worldwide.
“The high-quality cosmetic grade talc used in Johnson’s Baby Powder complied with all required regulatory standards, did not contain asbestos and did not cause cancer.”
