It has been years since the business withdrew the talc-based baby powder in the US and Canada, but Johnson & Johnson announced that it intends to stop selling its legacy talc-based baby powder products globally in 2023. This announcement comes amid ongoing legal disputes.
Following an evaluation of its portfolio, J&J announced on Thursday that it has “commercially decided” to switch all of its baby powder products to cornstarch from talcum powder. Since almost a decade ago, the health company has been the target of lawsuits accusing it of concealing cancer risks connected to its talc-based baby powder, despite its insistence that the product is harmless.
According to spokesperson Melissa Witt, “We regularly assess and improve our portfolio to best position the business for long-term success.” “Today’s decision is a result of an evaluation of our global portfolio that looked at a number of variables, including regional variations in the demand for our products and shifting consumer trends and tastes.”
Less than 1% of the company’s shares increased in post-market trade, and as of Thursday’s close, they had lost 2.3% of their value this year.
In May 2020, J&J withdrew its talc-based powders from the US and Canadian markets, citing yet another “commercial decision” based on dwindling sales as it negotiated thousands of lawsuits alleging the substance had caused some users to get cancer.
Because the mineral keeps skin dry and reduces diaper rash, talcum powder has been a staple in infant products for a long time. However, the mines that create the powder can also produce asbestos, a material that was historically utilised in goods like building insulation and has been linked by experts to cancer. Consumer product firms have discovered that maize starch can provide talc’s advantages without the asbestos concern.
According to J&J, “our position on the safety of our cosmetic talc remains unaltered,” as of Thursday.
The health company has been looking for strategies to limit its legal responsibilities for years. According to a business filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission made last month, it is facing 40,300 lawsuits in the US for its talc-based powders.
For the purpose of resolving all present and future talc claims, the corporation placed $2 billion into a trust as part of the bankruptcy of the subsidiary. A judge declared in February that the case may move forward in order to pursue settlements, but his decision is currently being contested.
Former talc users’ attorneys have contested J&J’s decision to have the unit file for Chapter 11 protection in order to deal with the talc unit. On September 19, a federal appeals court in Philadelphia will examine the plaintiffs’ assertions that the action constituted to a “bad faith” bankruptcy filing because they maintain that the talc litigation didn’t pose a threat to J&J’s financial standing.
