Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (J&J) convinced a federal court in California to dismiss for good the plaintiff’s attempt at filing claims against the company. Plaintiffs alleged J&J violated consumer protection laws by misrepresenting Baby Powder and Shower to Shower talcum powders as safe and pure, even when they contained asbestos and other hazardous substances. It was the plaintiff’s sixth attempt at filling a viable claim. The court concluded that plaintiffs failed to show the products had unsafe levels of contaminants, and also failed to identify any particular advertisements on which they relied.
J&J is at the center of nearly 22,000 lawsuits all alleging in some form that its talcum powder causes ovarian cancer or mesothelioma. The company has denied any wrongdoing, rejected claims of asbestos contamination in their products as well as their potential to cause cancer. However, the company removed its talc-based baby powder from the U.S. and Canada in 2020.