Nebraska Attorney General Hilgers, along with 42 other attorneys general, has reached a $700 million nationwide settlement to resolve allegations related to the marketing of Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder and body powder products containing talc.
The settlement addresses claims that Johnson & Johnson deceptively promoted and misled consumers regarding the safety and purity of some of its talc powder products. As part of the agreement, Johnson & Johnson will cease manufacturing and selling its baby powder and body powder products containing talc in the United States.
Johnson & Johnson had sold these products for over a century. Following investigations by the coalition of states, the company halted distribution and sales within the United States and recently ended global sales. While this lawsuit focused on deceptive marketing practices, other lawsuits have alleged that talc causes serious health issues, including mesothelioma and ovarian cancer.
The settlement requires Johnson & Johnson to stop manufacturing, marketing, promoting, selling, and distributing all baby and body powder products containing talcum powder in the United States. This includes well-known products such as Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower.
As part of the settlement, Nebraska will receive just over five million dollars. The agreement is pending judicial approval.
Texas, Florida, and North Carolina led the multistate settlement effort. Other participating states include 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.