Johnson & Johnson to discontinue sales of their baby powder globally

Did you ever use it on your babies?

Johnson & Johnson baby powder has been on the market since 1894 and used by millions of families across the world ever since. And despite facing several lawsuits over the past few years over safety concerns relating to their talcum-based baby powder, the company has continued to maintain the product is completely safe to use. However, last week, J&J issued a release stating they will stop selling and making the iconic baby powder globally – a decision that comes two years after it ended sales of the product in the US and Canada. “As part of a worldwide portfolio assessment, we have made the commercial decision to transition to an all cornstarch-based baby powder portfolio,” the company said in a statement. “As a result of this transition, talc-based Johnson’s baby powder will be discontinued globally in 2023.” The US-based healthcare firm has faced tens of thousands of lawsuits from consumers over the past few years, who allege the much-used baby powder caused them to develop cancer. Following some of these lawsuits and a sharp fall in demand, Johnson & Johnson announced back in 2020 that they were ending sales of the product in the US and Canada after what they claimed to be “misinformation” about the product’s safety. Despite facing almost 40.000 lawsuits, the company continued to maintain that the talc-based baby powder did not cause cancer.

“Our position on the safety of our cosmetic talc remains unchanged,” the company said.

“We stand firmly behind decades of independent scientific analysis by medical experts worldwide that confirm that talc-based Johnson’s baby powder is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer.”

The decision to now discontinue sales of the talcum-based powder globally comes as a result of J&J 'optimising” its product portfolio,' the company explained.

“We continuously evaluate and optimise our portfolio to best position the business for long-term growth,” the company said. “This transition will help simplify our product offerings, deliver sustainable innovation, and meet the needs of our consumers, customers and evolving global trends.”

Back in October last year, the multimillion-dollar cosmetic and healthcare company faced bankruptcy after being left with $3.5bn in n verdicts and settlements, including one in which 22 women were awarded a judgment of more than $2bn.