Johnson & Johnson has had one of the most popular products on the shelves for over 100 years-their talc-based baby powder.
Well, this week, the company announced on its website that they have re-evaluated their products and in light of the Coronavirus pandemic, they have stopped shipping hundreds of items in the US and Canada, placing a higher priority on high-demand products and to comply with social distancing practices in manufacturing and distribution facilities.
Since 2013, many lawsuits have been brought against the company, resulting in large awards against Johnson & Johnson as a result of their product having links to both Mesothelioma and Ovarian cancers. Additionally, studies found that the talc-based powder contained trace amounts of asbestos. To date, juries have awarded nearly $5 billion in damages to plaintiffs as a result of damages.
And of course, the company has experienced a decline in sales of their talc-based baby powder, attributing the decline “in large part to changes in consumer habits and fueled by misinformation around the safety of the product and a constant barrage of litigation advertising.” Johnson & Johnson remains confident in the safety of their product and will continue to sale it outside of the United States and Canada. The company will continue to sell the product in both countries until inventory runs out.
Johnson & Johnson does have a cornstarch-based baby powder that will remain on the market.
