Johnson & Johnson facing legal action over links between talc and cancer

Johnson & Johnson is facing legal action in UK courts over links between its talcum powder and cancer.

Lawyers at KP Law say more than 100,000 people could have been diagnosed with certain cancers after being exposed to asbestos contained within the company’s talcum powder.

They say the pharmaceutical giant knew as early as the 1970s that asbestos in its talc products was dangerous but failed to warn its customers. It continued to produce and sell talc products in the UK until 2022.

Tom Longstaff, the lawyer leading the UK case and a partner at KP Law, said:

‘This once-trusted corporation knew for decades that the asbestos in its talc products was present, that it was dangerous, but did nothing to notify consumers of the risk, who have ended up paying the highest price imaginable for the sake of corporate greed. 

‘We are committed to helping as many people as possible achieve justice in the UK for the actions of profit-hungry executives in US boardrooms.’

The firm has been contacted by 4,000 people in regards to possible claims. It is currently representing around 2,000 people in their claim against Johnson & Johnson. 

KP Law has issued a letter before action on behalf of its clients, giving Johnson & Johnson until the end of the year to respond before it issues proceedings in 2025.

Johnson & Johnson maintains that its talcum powder was safe and stressed that it ‘takes the issue of talc safety incredibly seriously and always has.

World Health Organization says talc is ‘probably’ cancer-causing

The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer said in July 2024 that talc was ‘probably carcinogenic’ for people. 

This is based on ‘limited’ evidence that talc could cause ovarian cancer and ‘strong mechanistic evidence’ that it shows carcinogenic signs in human cells. 

These concerns relate to the dangers of mineral-based talcum powder itself, in addition to the asbestos contaminant.

Who could have been affected 

People who used talcum powder for at least 5 years, beginning 10 years or more before diagnosis of mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer or primary peritoneal cancer could be affected by this claim.

‘All of the claimants, predominantly women but also some men, who have sustained cancer after using Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder products, have experienced a life-changing illness,’ Longstaff added. 

‘In some cases, they have died from their cancer, leaving their families devastated.’

KP Law is representing claimants including cancer patients, survivors and the families of those who have died from the disease.

‘There are thousands of women in the UK who will have been diagnosed with cancers which have been identified as being linked to the use of talcum powder and may well have a case against Johnson & Johnson, along with a smaller proportion of men with regard to mesothelioma and peritoneal cancer,’ said Longstaff.

‘All of these innocent individuals deserve justice.’

Claimants angry and demand answers from Johnson & Johnson

Linda Jones, 66, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in November 2023 and said she used Johnson & Johnson talc from when she was a baby until she was in her 20s.

‘We all used talc, without exception,’ she said. ‘My mother used it on me when I was a baby in the 50s, and I kept using it for years after.’

The company director from north Devon has been told by medics she may only have months to live.

She said she is ‘bitter and very angry’, adding: ‘If there was any suggestion whatsoever that the talcum powder would cause harm to not only women, but small babies, it should have been taken off the market.’

Cassandra Wardle, from Alfreton in Derbyshire, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2022 at the age of 44.

She said her mum has used talcum powder on her every day from a baby, and she continued the ritual into her 20s.

‘It’s just what people did. Johnson and Johnson talcum powder was in every home and was a trusted brand.’

‘I am grateful to still be here, but I am also incredibly angry.

‘I want to know why Johnson & Johnson didn’t change the ingredients of the talcum powder when they knew that it was dangerous.’

While she completed treatment two years ago, Mrs Wardle’s immune system has been compromised as a result.

KP Law says individual damages could be ‘substantial’, reaching six figures in some cases. 

It says Johnson & Johnson has already set aside more than $6 billion to settle ovarian cancer cases in the US with a further amount of more than $4bn for people diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Johnson & Johnson has faced tens of thousands of US lawsuits 

Johnson & Johnson has faced tens of thousands of lawsuits in the US over the claimed links between its talc and cancer.

It announced in August 2022 that it would stop making talc-based powder globally and would transition to using corn-starch.

The company discontinued sales of its talc-based baby powder in the UK in 2023.

A Johnson and Johnson spokesperson said: ‘We have relied upon the most state-of-the-art testing protocols for decades and have been entirely transparent with government institutions and academic researchers regarding our findings.

‘Those findings uniformly show the absence of asbestos contamination in Johnson’s Baby Powder and the talc sourced for Johnson’s Baby Powder.

He added that Johnson & Johnson have won – or won on appeal – the ‘vast majority’ of trials in the US.