Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has decided it is ending the production of its infamous talc-based baby powder globally by 2023.
The move comes amid thousands of lawsuits against the American drugmaker, claiming the talc products caused cancer due to contamination with asbestos, a form of carcinogen.
J&J already stopped selling its talc baby powder in the US and Canada in 2020, although it has adamantly denied the allegations. It earlier said it had “decades of scientific testing and regulatory approvals” for the product.
About 38,000 lawsuits from consumers and survivors have accused J&J. It then funneled the claims to a subsidiary which it declared bankrupt, effectively pausing the litigation during the company’s bankruptcy proceedings.
On Friday, J&J decided to just discontinue the product globally, and “transition to an all cornstarch-based baby powder portfolio,” it said in a statement.
“We continuously evaluate and optimize our portfolio to best position the business for long-term growth. This transition will help simplify our product offerings, deliver sustainable innovation, and meet the needs of our consumers, customers and evolving global trends,” it added.
It still reiterated its position on the safety of its talc product, saying the baby powder “safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer.”
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