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| Photo Credit: Reuters. |
Johnson & Johnson is ending its sales of baby powder with talc globally in 2023 following lawsuits that claimed the product caused cancer. The said product has already been withdrawn from the United States and Canada.
What will Johnson & Johnson replace talc with, and what is the issue with talc baby powder?
The company
said talc with be replaced by cornstarch, The Associated Press reports.
Lawsuits alleged
that its talcum powder caused users to develop ovarian cancer, through use for
feminine hygiene, or mesothelioma, a cancer that strikes the lungs and other organs,
according to The Associated Press.
Is Johnson & Johnson talc baby powder safe?
Johnson
& Johnson as well as an overwhelming majority of medical research on talc
indicates that the talc baby powder is safe and does not cause cancer.
In 2020
Johnson & Johnson removed the talc-based product in most of North America
after demand for the company’s baby powder plunged.
Demands for Johnson & Johnson talc baby powder plunges
The company
argued that it took the decision after demands for the product dropped due to “misleading
talc litigation advertising that caused global confusion and unfounded
concern,” about product safety, a company spokeswoman said.
In an
announcement Thursday, Johnson & Johnson said the change will simplify its
product selection and meet evolving global trends, according to The Associated
Press.
In October
2021, Johnson & Johnson said a separate subsidiary it created to manage
talc litigation claims filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Johnson
& Johnson said it funded the subsidiary, named LTL Management, and
established a $2 billion trust to pay claims the bankruptcy court determines
that it owes, The Associated Press reported.