In May 2020, Johnson & Johnson announced that it would stop selling its talc-based baby powder in American and Canadian markets after being hit with billions of dollars in judgments from lawsuits.
Despite pulling the product from the market, Johnson & Johnson denies that the product is linked to health problems, including cancer. In 2018, the company was ordered to $4.7 billion to 22 women and their families after a St. Louis jury found the company liable for the women developing ovarian cancer. Another woman in California was awarded $29 million in 2019 after alleging that the baby powder caused her to develop mesothelioma.
The company is currently facing more than 16,000 lawsuits related to its talc-based baby powder. Some experts believe that talc can pose health risks to people who use it due to the fact that it doesn’t easily break down in the body, resulting in irritation and inflammation. Over time, those effects can become cancerous.
Despite Johnson & Johnson denying that their baby powder product causes an increased risk of cancer, the American Cancer Society says that data from 16 studies finds that women who use talc-based products have a 30% higher risk of developing ovarian cancer than women who don’t.
If you or someone you love used a talc-based product and developed health problems, including reproductive problems or cancer, you may be eligible for compensation. The defective product lawyers at Ferrer Poirot Feller are here to help. Contact us today for a free consultation.