On Tuesday, Johnson & Johnson announced that sales of its famous talc-based baby powder would be terminated in the United States and Canada. The company has long faced large numbers of lawsuits charging their product of containing asbestos, a substance known to cause cancer.
The company denies these allegations, saying that its business remains confident in its talc-based baby powder's safety. They claim that decades of scientific studies provided by medical experts worldwide support the safety of their product, according to their statement.
Furthermore, they claim to continue unceasingly defending their talc-based powder, its safety, and the baseless allegations against the said product and the company in the courtroom.
The company recalled 33,000 bottles of the baby powder back in October after FDA officials found a minimal amount of asbestos in a bottle purchased online. However, during the same month, Johnson & Johnson said that 15 tests conducted by two laboratories hired by the company found no asbestos on the same bottle of baby powder.
Johnson & Johnson added that even though the product has been discontinued in the U.S. and Canada, existing stocks will still be sold in other countries, where the demand for the product still remains high. Additionally, the company disclosed that Johnson & Johnson's cornstarch-based baby powder, which has not faced similar assertions, will stay in the market in North America.
Illinois Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, rejoiced by announcing that the asbestos-containing baby powder will now be taken off shelves, providing victory for children and families who will no longer be endangered by the product.
Today, in a major victory for public health, Johnson & Johnson’s asbestos-containing baby powder will be taken off store shelves. My Subcommittee’s 14-month investigation revealed that Johnson & Johnson knew for decades that its product contains asbestos.https://t.co/jBnXINi3eI — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (@CongressmanRaja) May 19, 2020
What is Asbestos?
According to the National Cancer Institute, it is the name given to six minerals as bundles of fibers that arise naturally in the environment. These fibers can be separated into thin, durable threads for use in commercial and industrial applications.
These non-electrical conducting fibers can resist fire, heat, and other chemicals. Because of these properties, asbestos has been extensively used in many industries.
Oregon State University says that asbestos fibers enter the body mostly through breathing. They claim that asbestos-containing materials are not customarily harmful unless they release dust or fibers into the air that can be inhaled or ingested.
Many of these fibers become trapped in the mucous membranes of the nose and throat, which could eventually enter the lungs or digestive tract. Health problems can arise once these substances reach internal organs.
Are Johnson's Baby Products Safe?
With the company now facing lawsuits left and right, it could be pretty challenging to say whether its other products remain safe for use. As a company providing products for the most vulnerable of beings, many people have turned their backs on the company's products over the past few years.
In 2011, Forbes reported that after Johnson & Johnson ranked as the most trusted brand in America, things slowly shifted after concerns were raised regarding the company's iconic baby shampoo.
Then again, in March of 2019, the Rajasthan Drugs Control Organization had reported detecting the presence of formaldehyde in samples of two batches of Johnson's baby shampoo manufactured by Johnson & Johnson in India.
Read Also: Johnson & Johnson To Pay $110.5 Million To The Woman Who Said That The Company's Baby Powder Gave Her Cancer
