Johnson & Johnson will stop selling their talc-based baby powder globally next year.
Two years ago the company halted sales in the US and Canada, and now Ireland and the rest of the world will also see sales of the talc-based baby power come to an end. The company have stated that it is a "commercial decision", despite recent claims that the talc product has been connected to cancer.
Their statement reads: "As part of a worldwide portfolio assessment, we have made the commercial decision to transition to an all cornstarch-based baby powder portfolio. As a result of this transition, talc-based JOHNSON’S® Baby Powder will be discontinued globally in 2023."
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The announcement comes as the company faces about 38,000 lawsuits from consumers alleging that J&J talc products cause cancer after using it for prolonged periods. The lawsuits claimed that the talc powder was contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen. Asbestos exposure has been linked to lung cancer, and there is debate over whether it can also cause ovarian cancer.
J&J denied the allegations by stating its talc is safe and asbestos-free after decades of scientific testing and regulatory approvals. However, due to a fall off in sales, they have decided to remove the product from the market. They will, however, continue to sell a cornstarch-based baby powder.
“Our position on the safety of our cosmetic talc remains unchanged. We stand firmly behind the decades of independent scientific analysis by medical experts around the world that confirms talc-based JOHNSON’S® Baby Powder is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer," their statement read.
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