Johnson & Johnson’s ‘cancer-causing’ Baby Powder: Uk’s Product Liability Lawsuit

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Johnson's US babe powder pictured successful 2020. Credit: Shiva Photo, Shutterstock

A awesome ineligible declare has been revenge successful nan UK against pharmaceutical elephantine Johnson & Johnson (J&J), accusing nan institution of knowingly trading babe powder contaminated pinch asbestos for decades.

The High Court action involves complete 3,000 claimants, making it perchance nan largest merchandise liability lawsuit successful British history, according to nan BBC.

Thousands allege crab nexus to asbestos-contaminated Johnson & Johnson talcum powder

The lawsuit, led by KP Law, alleges that soul institution memos and technological reports – immoderate making love backmost to nan 1960s – show J&J knew its mineral-based talcum powder contained fibrous minerals, including tremolite and actinolite, some classified arsenic asbestos erstwhile fibrous.

Court documents reportedly mention a 1973 soul memo acknowledging nan beingness of “talc fragments classifiable arsenic fibre” successful J&J’s babe powder. Another missive allegedly discussed keeping a patent confidential that aimed to region asbestos from talc, stating nan institution mightiness for illustration to support nan full point confidential alternatively than fto nan world know.

J&J has denied nan allegations, saying its babe powder “was compliant pinch each regulatory standards, did not incorporate asbestos, and does not origin cancer.”

Many claimants are women diagnosed pinch ovarian crab aliases mesothelioma, cancers powerfully linked to asbestos exposure. Among them is Siobhan Ryan, 63, from Somerset, who told nan BBC, “My mother utilized it and I utilized it. It smelt bully and was soft and lovely. When my babies were calved I utilized it connected them. I thought I was doing my champion for them… I couldn’t judge what I was proceeding erstwhile nan expert told maine I had shape 4 ovarian cancer.”

According to lawyers, J&J’s trading strategy allegedly targeted mothers complete respective decades, portraying nan talc arsenic “pure and gentle.”

J&J stopped trading talcum powder successful 2023

In response, J&J and its caller user wellness spin-off Kenvue said their products were tested for information by independent laboratories worldwide and recovered to beryllium asbestos-free. The institution stopped trading talc-based babe powder globally successful 2023, having switched to a cornstarch-based replacement successful nan US successful 2020.

Kenvue stated, “We sympathise profoundly pinch group surviving pinch cancer. We understand that they and their families want answers – that’s why nan facts are truthful important.

The information of Johnson’s babe powder is backed by years of testing by independent and starring laboratories, universities and wellness authorities successful nan UK and astir nan world.

The high-quality cosmetic people talc that was utilized successful Johnson’s babe powder was compliant pinch immoderate required regulatory standards, did not incorporate asbestos, and does not origin cancer.”

The UK suit mirrors extended litigation successful nan United States, wherever J&J has faced tens of thousands of claims. Juries person awarded billions successful damages – including a $966 cardinal (€889 million) judgement past week to nan family of a female who died of mesothelioma, though that sum whitethorn beryllium reduced connected appeal.

Earlier this month, a Connecticut tribunal ordered J&J to salary $25 cardinal (€23 million) to a man diagnosed pinch terminal mesothelioma aft semipermanent talcum powder use.

This lawsuit could group a landmark precedent successful UK user protection law. The proceedings are expected to tally into hundreds of millions of pounds and whitethorn style really multinational corporations are held accountable for humanities merchandise information issues.

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