Johnson & Johnson Proposes $5.5 Billion Settlement for Talc Lawsuits

New York. American health-related product manufacturing company Johnson & Johnson has proposed to pay up to $5.5 billion USD to settle approximately 69,000 lawsuits filed over allegations that its talc-based baby powder and other products caused ovarian cancer. This proposal is aimed at ending the legal dispute that has been ongoing for years against the company. The company, however, has continuously denied allegations that its talc-based products cause cancer and has stated that it has also changed the formula of its baby powder.

Company's Vice President of Litigation Management, Eric Haas, stated that the allegations are baseless. According to him, although the company has achieved success in most cases in court, this settlement proposal has been made to end the long legal process and focus on its core business. 

According to Johnson & Johnson, if this proposal is approved, up to $3 billion USD will be paid in 2027, and there will be a provision that no additional payment will be required before 2028. For this settlement to be final, 95 percent of the legal representatives of the lawsuits related to ovarian cancer in state and federal courts must agree.

Kenvue, Johnson & Johnson's former consumer health business, bears the liability related to Johnson's Baby Powder sold outside North America. Kenvue became an independent company separated from Johnson & Johnson in 2022. This company includes popular brands such as Band-Aid, Listerine, and Calpol.

The first lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, claiming cancer due to talc-based baby powder, was filed in 2009. This July, a federal court ruled in favor of the company, commenting that it is difficult to prove that talc itself is the direct cause of ovarian cancer.

Talc is a natural mineral made from magnesium, silicon, oxygen, and hydrogen. Due to its soft and slippery feel, it is used in various cosmetic and health-related products, including baby powder. The plaintiffs have alleged that asbestos was mixed in talc production, and cancer was caused by it. Asbestos is known as a cancer-causing substance, and it is claimed that there is a risk of contamination because talc mines are often found near asbestos-containing layers.

However, Johnson & Johnson has denied all these allegations, stating that talc is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer. In 2022, the company announced that it would stop the production and sale of talc-based baby powder worldwide. Its sale had already stopped in America before that. The company stated at the time that it had made a business decision to change all baby powder products to a new formula based on cornstarch. change.