By Zuko Komisa
Johnson & Johnson announced on Thursday that it will stop selling talc-based baby powder globally in 2023.
This is more than two years after it stopped selling the product in the US, which prompted thousands of consumer safety lawsuits.
About 38 000 lawsuits have been filed against the corporation by consumers and the survivors of those who have died from cancer, alleging that asbestos, a recognized carcinogen, was present in the talc products.
Johnson’s Baby Powder, which has been available since 1894, has come to represent the brand’s commitment to families.
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J&J disputes the claims, claiming that years of governmental approvals and scientific research have established the safety and absence of asbestos in its talc. It reiterated the statement while announcing the product’s discontinuance on Thursday.
In a statement released by the global pharmaceutical company they wrote:
“As part of a worldwide portfolio assessment, we havemade the commercial decision to transition to an all cornstarch-based baby powder portfolio. As a result of this transition, talc-based JOHNSON’S® Baby Powder will be discontinued globally in 2023.
We continuously evaluate and optimize our portfolio to best position the business for long-term growth. This transition will help simplify our product offerings, deliver sustainable innovation, and meet the needs of our consumers, customers and evolving global trends.”
The company also said that they stand firmly behind the decades of independent scientific analysis by medical experts around the world that confirms talc-based JOHNSON’S® Baby Powder.
They also said that it is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer.
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