Johnson & Johnson Faces £1 Billion UK Lawsuit Over Asbestos-Tainted Talcum Powder
More than 3,000 claimants in the United Kingdom have filed a joint legal claim worth over £1 billion against Johnson & Johnson, alleging the pharmaceutical giant knowingly sold asbestos-contaminated talcum powder for decades. The lawsuit, filed in the UK High Court, claims Johnson & Johnson was aware of carcinogenic asbestos in its products since the 1960s but continued marketing them to consumers, leading to ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and other serious health conditions among regular users.
Thousands of British citizens have united in a landmark legal battle against pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, alleging the company knowingly sold asbestos-tainted talcum powder products for more than five decades. The joint claim, estimated to be worth over £1 billion ($1.34 billion), represents one of the largest consumer protection lawsuits in UK history and highlights ongoing global concerns about product safety and corporate accountability in the healthcare industry.
The UK Legal Claim
The lawsuit involves more than 3,000 individuals who developed various forms of cancer and other serious health conditions after using Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder products. Filed before the UK High Court's Manchester Circuit Commercial Court, the claim covers the period from 1965 to 2023 and alleges that Johnson & Johnson "knew their talc products contained carcinogenic fibres, including asbestos, for more than fifty years and chose to keep it on the market in pursuit of profit". The case will be decided by a judge rather than a jury under the UK legal system.
Corporate Knowledge and Timeline
According to internal documents cited in the lawsuit, Johnson & Johnson began commissioning scientific analysis of its talc-based products as early as the 1960s. A 1969 internal memo specifically mentioned that until tremolite—one of six types of asbestos—was proven to have no adverse effects, its use should be minimized. The memo notably stated that talc could no longer be guaranteed to be safe for babies, raising serious questions about the company's continued marketing of these products to families with infants.
Global Context and Previous Settlements
This UK lawsuit follows extensive legal battles Johnson & Johnson has faced in the United States. Despite winning some appeals, the company agreed to pay $700 million in June 2023 in a nationwide settlement to resolve allegations that it misled customers about the safety of its talcum-based powder products. Just last week, a Los Angeles jury ordered the firm to pay $966 million to the family of a woman who died from cancer after using Johnson & Johnson products. The company only removed its talcum powder from UK shelves in 2023, three years after doing so in Canada and the United States.
Corporate Response and Responsibility
Johnson & Johnson has shifted responsibility for the UK claim to Kenvue Ltd., its former consumer health business that separated from the parent company in August 2023. In a statement, Johnson & Johnson indicated that "Kenvue retained the responsibility and any purported liability for talc related litigation outside of the United States and Canada". Kenvue, meanwhile, maintains that its baby powder was compliant with regulatory standards, did not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer, citing testing by independent laboratories and health authorities.
Health Impacts and Personal Stories
The lawsuit alleges that regular users of Johnson & Johnson talcum powders have developed—and in many cases died from—ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, uterine fibroids, and other diseases. Siobhan Ryan, a 63-year-old claimant, told BBC News that she used the powder on herself and her children, believing she was "doing my best for them." She was diagnosed with stage-four ovarian cancer and has undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy, near-fatal sepsis, and major abdominal surgery. Doctors have determined her cancer is no longer operable.
Regulatory History and Industry Practices
The case highlights broader concerns about regulatory oversight of cosmetic products. By the 1980s, it was widely accepted that all forms of asbestos were dangerous and could cause cancer. However, according to the lawsuit, Johnson & Johnson and other companies successfully lobbied the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to not regulate asbestos content in talc. The FDA only began testing talcum powder for asbestos in 2018, and a year later, Johnson & Johnson voluntarily withdrew a batch of its powder after the FDA found asbestos fibers in a sample.
Conclusion
The UK lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson represents a significant moment in consumer protection and corporate accountability. As the legal proceedings unfold, they will likely set important precedents for how multinational corporations are held responsible for product safety across different jurisdictions. The case also underscores the critical importance of transparent product testing and regulatory oversight to protect consumer health, particularly for products marketed for use on vulnerable populations like infants and children.
