Thousands Sue Johnson & Johnson Over Alleged Asbestos in Baby Powder
More than 3,000 people in the UK have launched a major lawsuit against pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J), accusing the company of knowingly selling talcum powder contaminated with asbestos—a substance strongly linked to cancer.
The claimants, many of whom are battling or have lost loved ones to ovarian cancer or mesothelioma, argue that Johnson's Baby Powder—marketed as safe and pure for decades—was anything but.
The case, filed by KP Law at London’s High Court, centers around internal company documents and scientific reports that suggest J&J may have known about asbestos contamination as early as the 1960s. One 1973 internal memo allegedly stated, "Our baby powder contains talc fragments classifiable as fiber. Occasionally sub-trace quantities of tremolite or actinolite are identifiable…" These minerals, when fibrous, are considered forms of asbestos—a known carcinogen. The lawsuit claims J&J didn’t just fail to warn consumers, but actively pushed to hide the risk.
In response, J&J has denied all allegations. It says its talc-based baby powder met regulatory standards, did not contain asbestos, and “does not cause cancer.” Kenvue, a spin-off company that took over J&J's consumer health division in 2023, echoed this, saying the product was backed by years of testing by “independent and leading laboratories, universities and health authorities.”
Despite those assurances, the claimants’ lawyers argue that J&J's own research, along with external studies, should have made the asbestos risk clear. They allege the company lobbied regulators to adopt less sensitive testing standards and even sponsored studies designed to downplay the health risks.
By the 1990s and 2000s, J&J’s marketing shifted to target specific demographics, including African American women. One internal 2008 email seen by the BBC reportedly stated: “The reality that talc is unsafe for use on/around babies is disturbing…” adding: “I don’t think we can continue to call it baby powder and keep it in the baby aisle.” J&J says that comment was about asphyxiation risks, not cancer or asbestos.
The lawsuit could result in hundreds of millions of pounds in damages and may become the largest product liability case in British history. While the UK typically awards less in damages than US courts, this action follows a pattern of similar lawsuits overseas. In the US, J&J has already paid out billions, including a $25 million payout this month to a man with terminal mesothelioma.
J&J stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the US in 2020 and globally in 2023, switching to a cornstarch-based formula. Critics argue this proves safer alternatives were available all along. For now, J&J stands firm in its defence, but the mounting lawsuits and emotional testimonies suggest the final word is far from written.
