PHOENIX – Attorney General Kris Mayes, along with 42 other state attorneys general, has reached a $700 million nationwide settlement to resolve allegations concerning the marketing of Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder and body powder products containing talc.
“Today's settlement is a significant victory for Arizonans and consumers nationwide,” said Attorney General Mayes. “For decades, Johnson & Johnson misled the public about the safety of its talc products. By stopping the manufacture and sale of these harmful products and imposing these penalties, we are protecting the health and well-being of countless individuals and ensuring accountability on behalf of consumers.”
The consent judgment filed in this lawsuit addresses allegations that Johnson & Johnson deceptively promoted and misled consumers in advertisements related to the safety and purity of some of its talc powder products. As part of the lawsuit, Johnson & Johnson has agreed to stop the manufacture and sale of its baby powder and body powder products that contain talc in the United States.
Johnson & Johnson sold such products for over a hundred years. After the coalition of states began investigating, the company stopped 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 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.
As part of this settlement, Arizona will receive $15,466,308. The settlement is pending judicial approval.
Arizona led this multistate settlement along with Texas, Florida, North Carolina; Alabama; Alaska; 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 joined.
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