Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, along with 42 other attorneys general, has reached a $700 million nationwide settlement with Johnson & Johnson. The proposed consent judgment, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, aims to resolve allegations related to the marketing of the company's talc-containing baby powder and body powder products. Massachusetts is expected to receive approximately $14.5 million through 2027 as part of this multistate agreement, pending judicial approval.
The lawsuit addresses claims that Johnson & Johnson deceptively promoted and misled consumers regarding the safety and purity of its talc powder products. As part of the settlement, Johnson & Johnson has agreed to cease manufacturing and selling these products in the United States.
“For decades, Johnson & Johnson prioritized its own financial profit and risked the health and safety of consumers, including vulnerable infants and children, by deceiving consumers about the purity of its products,” said AG Campbell. “I am proud to join this multistate settlement, which will stop the company from continuing its harmful practices and protect consumers both in Massachusetts and nationwide.”
Johnson & Johnson had sold talc-containing baby powder and body powder products for over a century. Following investigations by state coalitions, the company halted distribution and sales in the United States and recently ended global sales. While this lawsuit focused on deceptive marketing practices, numerous other lawsuits have been filed by private plaintiffs alleging that talc causes serious health issues such as mesothelioma and ovarian cancer.
Pending court approval, under the proposed consent judgment Johnson & Johnson will:
- Cease manufacturing, marketing, promotion, sale, and distribution of all baby and body powder products containing talcum powder in the United States.
- Permanently stop manufacturing any covered products either directly or indirectly through third parties.
- Permanently stop marketing any covered products either directly or indirectly through third parties.
- Permanently stop selling or distributing any covered products either directly or indirectly through third parties.
The full proposed settlement can be viewed online.
Joining AG Campbell in this multistate settlement were attorneys general from Texas (leading), Florida (leading), North Carolina (leading), Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Maine Maryland 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.
In Massachusetts this matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Michael Wong from AG’s Health Care Division.
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