Thousands In Uk Open Case Against Johnson & Johnson Over Alleged Talcum Powder Cancer Link

Thousands of group are taking ineligible action against pharmaceutical institution Johnson & Johnson, claiming it knowingly sold asbestos-contaminated talcum powder successful nan UK.

As galore arsenic 3,000 group person alleged that either they aliases a family personnel developed forms of ovarian crab aliases mesothelioma from utilizing Johnson’s Baby Powder, and are seeking damages astatine nan precocious tribunal successful London.

Lawyers for nan group said successful tribunal documents revenge connected Thursday that Johnson & Johnson, on pinch existent and erstwhile subsidiaries Johnson & Johnson Management and Kenvue UK, should each beryllium held liable.

They said J&J “concealed” nan consequence to nan nationalist for decades, having replaced talc pinch maize starch successful its babe powder successful nan UK since 2023.

A spokesperson for Kenvue, which was formerly J&J’s user wellness section and now has work for talc-related claims extracurricular nan US and Canada, said nan talc utilized successful babe powder complied pinch regulations, did not incorporate asbestos and does not origin cancer.

Talc is simply a people occurring mineral that is mined from nan earth.

Michael Rawlinson KC, for nan group of group bringing nan claim, said successful tribunal documents that “there beryllium very few, if any, commercially exploited talc deposits successful nan world which do not incorporate asbestos and that each of nan mines supplying nan defendants contained asbestos”.

He besides said that reports from specified mines, arsenic good arsenic its ain investigation alongside existing technological literature, would person informed J&J astir asbestos contamination.

Despite this, nan institution “suppressed accusation that mightiness bespeak that babe powder was contaminated pinch asbestos”, nan barrister added.

He besides said J&J “lobbied regulators” to alteration nan continued waste of its merchandise and sponsored studies successful an effort to “downplay nan dangers” to quality health.

J&J truthful “acted successful bad faith, to protect nan estimation and profit-making imaginable of babe powder and nan goodwill attached to their name”, Rawlinson said.

J&J denies nan allegations, including immoderate claims it knowingly sold babe powder contaminated pinch asbestos.

Janet Fuschillo, who is 1 of nan group bringing nan case, said she utilized J&J’s babe powder since nan 1960s, and that she was diagnosed pinch ovarian crab 7 years ago.

The 75-year-old said: “I utilized talc connected myself and each 4 of my children … I utilized talc erstwhile I changed nappies, aft baths, each nan time, for adjacent to 50 years.

“It’s a root of awesome interest and anger that I utilized talc connected my children.”

Patricia Angell said her husband, Edward, died successful 2006 aged 64, a fewer weeks aft being diagnosed pinch mesothelioma.

She described him arsenic a “perfectly fit, patient man” who worked arsenic an electrician and who knew astir asbestos.

She said: “When he fell sick nan doctors asked him if he ever came into interaction pinch asbestos and he told them he ne'er had.

“He would travel location from activity and ablution each time and usage J&J’s talc … Talc was mentioned connected Edward’s autopsy report, on pinch asbestos strains recovered successful contaminated talc.”

She added that her hubby had been “robbed” of 19 years of life her children of a father.

Mesothelioma, a shape of cancer, is almost ever caused by asbestos exposure, according to nan NHS, and it commonly forms successful nan lungs aft group inhale nan microscopic fibres.

Rawlinson said nan method of exertion of nan babe powder - squeezing aliases shaking nan vessel - meant that “clouds” of powder hung successful nan aerial “for a very agelong clip aft use” and were inhaled by nan personification utilizing it.

A Kenvue spokesperson said: “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 Baby 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 Baby Powder was compliant pinch immoderate required regulatory standards, did not incorporate asbestos, and does not origin cancer.”