Thousands of people in the United Kingdom have launched a major lawsuit against pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J), accusing the company of knowingly selling talcum-based baby powder contaminated with asbestos.
The class-action claim, involving about 3,000 people, centres on internal company documents and scientific reports obtained by the BBC, which allegedly reveal that J&J was aware as far back as the 1960s that its talc contained asbestos-related minerals linked to cancer.
Allegations of Concealment
According to court filings, J&J knew its mineral-based powders contained fibrous talc, tremolite, and actinolite—substances that, in their fibrous form, are classified as asbestos and associated with deadly diseases such as mesothelioma and ovarian cancer.
Despite this knowledge, the lawsuit claims, the company failed to issue any health warnings and instead ran decades-long marketing campaigns presenting the baby powder as safe and pure. J&J has strongly denied the allegations, insisting its products “fully complied with all regulatory standards, did not contain asbestos, and do not cause cancer.”
Read Also: HeFRA Closes Down 18 Substandard Health Facilities in Ashanti Region
J&J stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the UK in 2023, three years after discontinuing it in the United States.
Largest Product Liability Case in UK History
Lawyers for the claimants estimate potential damages could reach hundreds of millions of pounds, making it one of the largest product liability cases ever brought in the UK. The lawsuit mirrors extensive litigation in the US, where J&J has faced thousands of similar claims and multi-billion-dollar verdicts—some of which the company has successfully appealed.
Evidence From Internal Memos
The BBC reports that internal company communications dating back to the 1970s reveal J&J’s awareness of possible contamination. One 1973 document allegedly stated:
“Our baby powder contains talc fragments classifiable as fiber. Occasionally sub-trace quantities of tremolite or actinolite are identifiable.”
Another memo from the same year discussed a proposed patent for removing asbestos fibres from talc but suggested keeping the development “confidential rather than allowing it to be published… and let the whole world know.”
J&J maintains that these discussions were purely technical and related to hypothetical regulatory changes, not evidence of concealment.
Alleged Efforts to Influence Regulators
The claimants also allege that from the early 1970s, J&J pressured the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to adopt less sensitive testing standards, which would fail to detect small amounts of asbestos in talc. The company allegedly advocated for tolerance levels of up to 1% asbestos contamination, allowing it to continue marketing the product as “pure.” J&J rejects this interpretation, saying the documents have been taken out of context.
Victims’ Stories
Many UK claimants have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related illnesses after years of using J&J’s baby powder.
One claimant, Siobhan Ryan, 63, from Somerset, told the BBC she developed stage 4 ovarian cancer after decades of using the product on herself and her children.
“My mother used it, I used it, and I thought it was the best for my babies. I couldn’t believe it when the doctor told me I had cancer,” she said.
Despite multiple rounds of chemotherapy and major surgery, her cancer has returned and is now considered inoperable.
“They knew it was contaminated and still sold it to mothers and babies,” she added.
Medical Perspective
Experts note that ovarian cancer can result from a mix of genetic, environmental, and external factors. Professor Christina Fotopoulou of Imperial College London explained that harmful external agents can disrupt cellular balance in the reproductive tract, potentially leading to cancer.
Persistent bloating, abdominal pain, or frequent urination are among the warning signs that should prompt medical attention, she added.
Recent US Verdict
Earlier this month, a court in Connecticut, USA, ordered J&J and its successor entities to pay $25 million in damages to a man who developed terminal peritoneal mesothelioma after lifelong use of the company’s baby powder.
Testimony in that case included admissions from a former J&J toxicology director, Dr. Steve Mann, who conceded that he made safety assurances without reviewing data and had seen test results showing asbestos contamination.
The judge in that case also noted that J&J ignored safer alternatives like cornstarch, which it could have used instead of talc.
Company Response
J&J, now operating its consumer health division under the name Kenvue, said in a statement:
“We sympathise deeply with people living with cancer and understand their desire for answers. The facts show our baby powder was safe, compliant with all regulations, and did not contain asbestos.”
The company continues to maintain that its talc-based products are safe and non-carcinogenic, citing years of testing by independent laboratories, universities, and health authorities worldwide.
If the UK case proceeds to trial, it could mark a historic moment in British consumer protection and corporate accountability.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem