A group of around 3,000 people in the UK has filed a legal claim against Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), accusing the pharmaceutical company of selling talcum-based baby powder contaminated with asbestos.
The case draws on internal documents and scientific studies dating back to the 1960s, which allegedly show the company knew its product contained minerals such as tremolite and actinolite.
These minerals, when in fibrous form, are considered asbestos and linked to cancers like mesothelioma.
The claimants argue that Johnson & Johnson failed to adequately warn consumers about the health risks associated with the product, instead marketing it as pure and safe. Legal filings include a 1973 company memo referencing trace amounts of fibrous material in its powder.
Lawyers say potential damages could run into hundreds of millions of pounds, potentially making it the largest product liability case in UK history.
Johnson & Johnson denies the allegations, maintaining that its baby powder met all regulatory requirements, did not contain asbestos, and is not linked to cancer.
The company stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the UK in 2023, following similar legal battles in the US.