Attorney General Kathy Jennings and 42 other attorneys general have 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 consent judgment filed in this lawsuit addresses allegations that Johnson & Johnson deceptively promoted and misled consumers regarding the safety and purity of some of its talc powder products. As part of the lawsuit, Johnson & Johnson has agreed to stop manufacturing and selling its baby powder and body powder products containing talc in the United States.
Johnson & Johnson sold such products for over a century. After the coalition of states began investigating, the company ceased distributing and selling these products in the United States and more recently ended global sales. While this lawsuit targeted deceptive marketing practices, numerous other lawsuits filed by private plaintiffs in class actions raised allegations that talc causes serious health issues including mesothelioma and ovarian cancer.
Under the consent judgment, Johnson & Johnson:
- Has ceased and will not resume manufacturing, marketing, promotion, sale, or distribution of all baby and body powder products containing talcum powder, including but not limited to Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower (“Covered Products”) in the United States.
- Shall permanently stop manufacturing any Covered Products in the United States either directly or indirectly through any third party.
- Shall permanently stop marketing and promoting any Covered Products in the United States either directly or indirectly through any third party.
- Shall permanently stop selling or distributing any Covered Products in the United States either directly or indirectly through any third party.
“This settlement underscores our commitment to protecting Delawareans and holding companies accountable, irrespective of their size when they attempt to deceive our citizens,” said Attorney General Jennings. “Companies prioritizing profits over the safety of Delawareans will be held to account.”
As part of the settlement, Delaware will receive over $4.9 million. This settlement is pending judicial approval.
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 joining.
###