Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) has stopped selling its talc-based baby powder in the United States and Canada. The decision comes in light of more than 19,000 lawsuits filed, many still pending, claiming that the company's talc products have caused individuals to develop cancer. Over the years, Johnson & Johnson has paid billions of dollars in relation to asbestos-related lawsuits. The company's talc-based baby powder has been found to contain the carcinogen asbestos.
The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to Johnson & Johnson back in October, based on a study in which they found trace amounts of asbestos in a bottle of the company's talc-based baby powder. As a result, 33,000 bottles were recalled. Johnson & Johnson later disputed the claims.
Also last year, Imerys Talc America, the talc supplier of Johnson & Johnson, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
According to the pharmaceutical and consumer goods giant, its baby powder makes up only half a percent of its consumer health revenue, and demand for their talc-based baby powder has declined, presumably due to widespread concern over the connections to cancer. Supposedly, the decline in demand has been the major reason why they've discontinued sales.
Mesothelioma, a cancerous tumor caused by inhaling asbestos fibers, and ovarian cancer are among the types of cancers connected with Johnson & Johnson products. In addition to the mesothelioma-related cases, many of the lawsuits against the company have been filed by women who developed ovarian cancer after regularly using the talc-based powder. The link between asbestos and ovarian cancer was first established back in 1958, according to the New York Times.
Johnson & Johnson has continued to stand by their product and its safety, claiming that the studies conducted which found asbestos were unfounded and that conclusions on the link between their product and cancer have been largely unsubstantiated.
"Decades of scientific studies by medical experts around the world support the safety of our product," the company said. "We will continue to vigorously defend the product, its safety, and the unfounded allegations against it and the Company in the courtroom. All verdicts against the Company that have been through the appeals process have been overturned."
The company has a cornstarch-based baby powder that remains on the market.