Johnson and Johnson will discontinue talc based baby powder worldwide (2024)

FAQs

Johnson and Johnson will discontinue talc based baby powder worldwide? ›

August 11, 2022 – “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.

Johnson & Johnson will end global sales of baby powder containing the mineral talc in 2023, switching to a formulation based on corn starch. The company is facing over 40 000 lawsuits in the US alleging that baby powder contaminated with asbestos caused ovarian cancer or mesothelioma.

According to the FDA, “there is the potential for contamination of talc with asbestos.” Asbestos has been used in construction and manufacturing, and is known to cause lung cancer, ovarian cancer, mesothelioma and other health conditions.

Johnson & Johnson's Talcum Powder and Asbestos

Johnson & Johnson announced in August 2022 it would discontinue global sales of talcum powder in 2023. It ended sales of its talc-based baby powder in the U.S. and Canada in 2020 but continued to sell it internationally.

Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health to Transition Global Baby Powder Portfolio to Cornstarch. August 11, 2022 – “As part of a worldwide portfolio assessment, we have made the commercial decision to transition to an all cornstarch-based baby powder portfolio.

Most claimed J&J's talc was contaminated with toxic asbestos fibers and causing serious health problems, including mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. Instead of using talc, the company will transition to a cornstarch-based product, which already is being sold in several countries around the world.

No we do not cause cancer, we firmly believe that JOHNSON'S^® baby powder is safe to use. Decades of safety reviews by independent researchers and scientists have shown that cosmetic talc is safe to use with no proven causal link to cancer.

Johnson & Johnson will stop selling talc-based baby powder globally in 2023, the drugmaker said on Thursday, more than two years after it ended U.S. sales of a product that drew thousands of consumer safety lawsuits.

Talc dust can cause significant harm if it's swallowed or inhaled. Talc inhalation can cause wheezing, coughing, chest pain and difficulty breathing. Although rare, talcum poisoning can prove fatal. Because of these risks, Johnson & Johnson includes a warning on its baby powder product.

The short answer is yes—baby powder is now generally safe to use. But there are a few things parents should know to minimize any potential health risks. Learn more about the safety concerns around baby powder and how to use it safely.

What is the status of the J&J talcum powder lawsuit? ›

Johnson & Johnson has agreed to a $700 million settlement in talc powder lawsuits from numerous U.S. states regarding the company's deceptive marketing tactics.

Generally, the only way for consumers to know if products are free of asbestos is if manufacturers use talc that is tested and certified as asbestos-free. However, one type of asbestos known as tremolite was found in cosmetic talcum powders labeled “tremolite-free,” suggesting that this approach is not foolproof.

Corn starch can work as a talcum powder alternative, but most doctors recommend avoiding it for diaper rash. This is because it can potentially irritate the skin and hold moisture rather than removing it.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has long recommended against the use of baby powders that contain talc, because of both inhalation concerns and potential cancer risks. But what about cornstarch baby powder? “If you have to choose between the two,” cornstarch baby powder is likely the better option, Spinner says.

Johnson & Johnson stopped selling baby powder containing talc in North America in 2020, and last year announced plans to discontinue global use of the mineral and sell only a cornstarch-based baby powder formula.

“We no longer produce talc-based Johnson's Baby Powder and the product will be discontinued globally in 2023.

Talc is most famous as the main ingredient in talcum powder, commonly marketed as baby powder. While talc is still used in makeup and other items, you won't see powders made from talc in many stores these days. Major manufacturers now make baby powder without talc in the United States.

Are JOHNSON'S^® baby products safe? Safety is our priority. You have our commitment that every JOHNSON'S^® baby product is safe, when used as directed. All of our ingredient choices are supported by the best available science, as well as by research from our global team of scientists.