Thousands of individuals have filed a major legal claim against Johnson & Johnson (J&J), accusing the company of knowingly selling baby powder contaminated with asbestos, which is linked to deadly cancers. The lawsuit, which involves approximately 3,000 claimants, focuses on internal company documents and scientific reports that suggest J&J was aware of the contamination as early as the 1960s. These documents reportedly show that the company knew its talc-based baby powder contained fibrous forms of talc, as well as tremolite and actinolite, which are asbestos minerals.
Despite knowing about the asbestos contamination, J&J is alleged to have failed to warn consumers about the risks and instead marketed its product as safe, pure, and gentle for babies. The legal action is based on claims that the company actively concealed the cancer risk while maximizing profits through aggressive marketing campaigns. The lawsuit documents internal discussions from the 1970s and 1980s where company executives focused on marketing the baby powder to African American women, while being aware of potential health risks.
J&J has denied the allegations, insisting that its baby powder met all regulatory standards and did not contain asbestos. The company argues that the claims misrepresent the context of internal communications and that it did not knowingly sell contaminated products. However, the UK lawsuit echoes similar legal battles in the United States, where J&J has faced billions of dollars in damages over talcum powder-related cancer claims. Some of these cases have been successfully appealed by the company.
The UK legal claim could become the largest product liability case in the nation’s history, with lawyers estimating damages could reach hundreds of millions of pounds. Many of the claimants are suffering from ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, or other cancers linked to asbestos exposure. One claimant, Siobhan Ryan, who was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer, expressed her shock and dismay after learning of the potential link between her cancer and J&J’s baby powder. She believes her long-term use of the product contributed to her condition.
J&J’s baby powder was discontinued in the UK in 2023, but litigation surrounding its alleged risks continues to grow. The company has moved its consumer health division to a new entity, Kenvue, but insists that the safety of the product is supported by years of independent testing.
