Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced today that his office, along with 42 other attorneys general, has reached a $700 million nationwide settlement to resolve allegations related to the marketing of Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based body and baby powder products. As part of the settlement, Minnesota will receive more than $10.5 million over three years.
The settlement addresses claims that Johnson & Johnson deceptively promoted and misled consumers regarding the safety and purity of its talc powder products. These products were marketed primarily to women for moisture absorption, chafing prevention, and odor control in the genital region. Despite being marketed as “safe” and “pure,” it was alleged that Johnson & Johnson could not ensure their talc was free of asbestos. The company failed to disclose the presence of asbestos in its talc products, which is harmful and may cause cancer.
As part of the agreement, Johnson & Johnson will permanently cease manufacturing, marketing, promoting, selling, and distributing all its talc powder products in the United States.
Johnson & Johnson sold talc powder products for over a century but stopped distributing and selling these products in the U.S. after states began investigating. Recently, the company ended global sales as well. While this investigation focused on deceptive marketing practices, numerous lawsuits filed by private plaintiffs have raised allegations that talc causes serious health issues such as mesothelioma and ovarian cancer.
Personal injury victims may seek compensation through a separate bankruptcy court process. Minnesota encourages consumers who believe they have personal injury claims against Johnson & Johnson to visit a designated website for additional information.
“Minnesotans need and deserve accurate information about the safety of the products they buy. Johnson & Johnson fell short of that expectation and the law when they misled consumers about the safety and purity of their baby powder, which put women’s lives at risk,” Attorney General Ellison stated. “I’m proud to be part of a bipartisan coalition of states that held Johnson & Johnson accountable. It should serve as a warning that we will not tolerate corporations that deceive the people of Minnesota.”
Texas, Florida, and North Carolina led the multistate settlement with Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New York North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Rhode Island South Dakota Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin also joining.
The Official Website of Office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
445 Minnesota Street Suite 1400 St Paul MN 55101
(651) 296-3353 (Twin Cities Calling Area) • (800) 657-3787 (Outside Twin Cities)
(800) 627-3529 (Minnesota Relay)