A legal claim has been filed in the UK against Johnson & Johnson (J&J), where approximately 3,000 individuals allege the company sold baby powder contaminated with asbestos. This lawsuit, pursued by KP Law, references internal documents and scientific reports allegedly indicating that J&J was aware as early as the 1960s that its talcum powder contained fibrous forms of talc and associated minerals classified as asbestos, which are linked to serious health concerns, including cancer.
The court documents claim J&J did not provide warnings regarding these risks on its product packaging, instead marketing the powder as safe and pure. J&J has denied these allegations, asserting that its baby powder met regulatory standards and contained no asbestos.
In the UK, the sale of talc-based baby powder was discontinued in 2023. This suit parallels numerous legal actions in the US where companies have faced substantial damages related to similar claims, with some outcomes in J&J’s favor. Lawyers representing the claimants suggest that potential damages in the UK may reach hundreds of millions of pounds, possibly marking the largest product liability case in British history.
Documents cited in the lawsuit reportedly detail J&J executives urging the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to accept lower testing standards for asbestos detection, allowing small amounts to go undetected. Additionally, discussions among J&J executives have surfaced about the need for confidentiality concerning their findings.
Claimants in the lawsuit, many suffering from serious illnesses like ovarian cancer and mesothelioma, allege prolonged use of J&J’s baby powder as a contributing factor to their conditions. Experts highlight that external factors, including exposure to harmful substances, may increase the risk of developing such cancers.
In a related case in the US, a jury found J&J negligent in a trial concerning asbestos contamination in their baby powder, ordering the company to pay substantial damages. J&J plans to appeal this decision, reaffirming that their products are deemed safe based on extensive testing.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c797wv928g8o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss