Johnson & Johnson Faces Major UK Lawsuit Over Alleged Asbestos-Contaminated Baby Powder
Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is once again under global scrutiny as a major legal claim has been filed in the United Kingdom, accusing the company of knowingly selling baby powder contaminated with asbestos. The case, brought by a coalition of British claimants, alleges that J&J’s iconic talc-based baby powder, marketed for decades as safe and gentle, caused serious health complications, including ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.
According to reports, the claimants assert that Johnson & Johnson was aware for years that its talcum powder products could contain traces of asbestos, a known carcinogen, but continued to sell them without proper warnings. Lawyers representing the affected individuals argue that this deliberate negligence exposed consumers,cmany of whom used the product daily, to dangerous health risks.
The UK lawsuit, which could become one of the largest mass claims of its kind in Europe, follows a series of similar legal battles in the United States, where J&J has already paid billions in settlements and faced thousands of lawsuits over the same issue. Despite those cases, the company has consistently denied wrongdoing, maintaining that its talc products are safe, thoroughly tested, and free of asbestos contamination.
In a statement responding to the new UK filing, Johnson & Johnson reiterated that decades of independent studies and regulatory reviews have shown its baby powder to be safe. “Our position remains clear, Johnson’s Baby Powder does not contain asbestos and does not cause cancer,” the company said.
However, lawyers for the claimants argue that internal company documents and scientific analyses suggest otherwise. They claim that J&J continued marketing the product even after internal tests allegedly revealed potential contamination risks in the talc supply chain.
Legal experts say the UK case could set a significant precedent for multinational product liability claims in Europe. If successful, it could open the floodgates for thousands of similar claims from consumers across the continent.
The controversy over J&J’s talc products has already pushed the company to halt global sales of its talc-based baby powder, switching instead to a cornstarch-based formula in 2023 after mounting legal and reputational pressure.
As the case unfolds, it raises renewed questions about corporate accountability, consumer safety, and regulatory oversight in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. For many affected families, though, the issue goes beyond compensation, it’s about justice and truth after decades of trust in a household brand that may have betrayed their confidence.
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