Johnson & Johnson denies knowing its talcum powder sometimes had traces of asbestos
- Firm sees stock price plunge 10 per cent after news report alleges it knew for decades that raw ingredients contained the cancer-causing chemical
- It has been hit with lawsuits claiming use of Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder and Shower to Shower powder caused a form of cancer called mesothelioma
The company strongly denied the report by Reuters, which published a lengthy investigation citing documents, many decades old, that have emerged in litigation.
Reuters said that from at least 1971 until the 2000s, Johnson & Johnson’s raw talc and finishing powders tested positive for asbestos, although most test documents Reuters reviewed showed no asbestos.
The report said company officials fretted over the test results while keeping the information private and failing to disclose the test results to regulators and the public. Johnson & Johnson called the Reuters article “one-sided, false and inflammatory” and a “conspiracy theory”.
The company has been hit with lawsuits by plaintiffs who claim use of Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder and Shower to Shower powder caused a form of cancer called mesothelioma, which is triggered by asbestos exposure. It also has been subjected to lawsuits by plaintiffs alleging their ovarian cancer was caused by its products.