Johnson & Johnson Stands by the Safety of Its Baby Powder—the FDA Isn’t so Sure

In yet another blow to its reputation as a personal-care company, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) recalled 33,000 bottles of its popular baby powder last month over concerns of toxic contamination. Though the company still stands by the quality and safety of its product, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has doubts after discovering evidence of asbestos, a known carcinogen, in one of the bottles.

Have You Been Exposed to Recalled Baby Powder?

The FDA and J&J announced the baby powder recall on October 18, 2019. FDA testing on one of the bottles from Lot #22318RB revealed the presence of asbestos, a known carcinogen most often linked to mesothelioma, which is an especially aggressive form of cancer.

Like many baby powders, Johnson & Johnson’s line is talcum powder. Talc is a mineral that occurs naturally in underground mineral deposits. But there’s a major problem.

Asbestos can form under the same conditions and intermix with the talc deposits.

If you recently bought Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder, make sure you check the lot number on the label. Again: Lot #22318RB has been recalled.

Unfortunately, the recalled bottles are not our only concern…

Here at the Yost Legal Group, we have been investigating the potential dangers posed to consumers who have used Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based products. More specifically, we have been prosecuting claims on behalf of women, from all over the country, who developed ovarian cancer following their use of J&J’s talc-based products like Baby Powder® and Shower to Shower®.

Despite J&J’s stance that its talcum products have always been safe, juries from several different states have determined otherwise.

For instance, juries in California, Missouri, New Jersey, and New York have all concluded that J&J failed to warn consumers about the potential risk of developing ovarian cancer associated with the use of talcum products. Cumulatively, these juries have awarded plaintiffs billions of dollars in compensatory and punitive damages.

And even after J&J filed an appeal to overturn a $4.7-billion verdict against the company in Missouri, St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Rex Burlison denied the motion, stating: “Substantial evidence was [cited] at trial of particularly reprehensible conduct on the part of defendants.” He also said that J&J knew their products were tainted and that the company “misrepresented the safety of these products for decades.”

The legal basis for these cases is that Johnson & Johnson knew about the link between its talc-based products and ovarian cancer for decades, but never acknowledged it or provided adequate warnings. This is another example of Big Pharma’s putting profits before consumer safety, and our experienced product liability attorneys will not stand for it.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma after having used Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based products, you may have a case. Call the Yost Legal Group at 1-800-YOST-LAW for a free initial consultation. We will help you find the answers. There is no expense unless you recover.