3000 People Sue Johnson & Johnson Over Baby Powder Cancer Claims

More than 3,000 people in the UK are suing Johnson & Johnson, claiming its baby powder caused cancer. They say the company sold talc-based powder that was contaminated with asbestos, leading to cases of ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.

The lawsuit, filed in London’s High Court, accuses Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries of hiding the risks for decades. Lawyers say the company knew the talc it used came from mines that contained asbestos but kept selling the product anyway. The powder was only pulled from UK shelves in 2023.

Michael Rawlinson KC, representing the group, said the company “suppressed information” and “lobbied regulators” to protect its brand. He added that shaking the powder into the air made it easy to inhale, which could have exposed users to harmful particles.

Among the claimants is Patricia Angell, whose husband Edward died of mesothelioma in 2006. He had never worked with asbestos but used the powder daily. “Talc was mentioned on Edward’s autopsy report, along with asbestos strains,” she told The Guardian.

Johnson & Johnson denies the claims. Kenvue, the company’s former consumer health division, says the product met safety standards and did not contain asbestos. “We sympathise deeply with people living with cancer,” a spokesperson said, while stressing that the facts matter. The case is expected to be closely watched as it moves through the courts.