Johnson & Johnson agreed to settle the cases for a total of $8.9 billion. Read to know more about the pharma giant’s talc settlement.
All about the Johnson and Johnson talc settlement:
Last week, Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay $8.9 billion as a part of its talk settlement to thousands who filed cases against the company. People are claiming that talcum powder is the reason behind their developing mesothelioma or ovarian cancer. With more than 38,000 pending lawsuits, the settlement is going to resolve current and future claims against its products. The proposed money will be paid over 25 years through the firm’s subsidiary, LTL Management. However, the offer is yet to receive court approval. An earlier offer of $2 billion to the plaintiffs was dismissed by an appeals court in the US.
Despite the settlement offers, the pharmacy giant maintained that its products were safe and not cancer-causing. In 2020, it stated it will stop selling talc-based products in the US. Additionally, it is moving to a corn-starch-based product starting in 2023. “As part of a worldwide portfolio assessment, we have made the commercial decision to transition to an all-cornstarch-based baby powder portfolio. Our position on the safety of our cosmetic talc remains unchanged. We stand firmly behind the decades of independent scientific analysis by medical experts around the world that confirms talc-based. The powder is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer,” stated the company.
What is this talc? Is it cancer-causing?
Talcum or talc is a naturally occurring soft mineral. In powdered form, it is used in cosmetics for absorbing moisture, preventing cracking, and improving the feel of the product. While the link between cancer and the product is not proven, doctors advise against inhaling it directly. “There is the potential for contamination of talc with asbestos and therefore, it is important to select talc mining sites carefully and take steps to test the ore sufficiently,” stated the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Additionally, asbestos is classified in group 1 of cancer-causing substances by the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancers. Asbestos exposure is linked to cancers of the larynx, ovaries, lungs, and the lining of the lung. “Currently, about 125 million people in the world are exposed to asbestos at the workplace. And nearly half the occupational cancers have been linked to asbestos,” revealed the World Health Organization (WHO). Investigation reveals asbestos was sometimes detected in the pharma giant’s talc.