Legal reports against Johnson & Johnson have revealed the presence of the carcinogenic substance “asbestos” in its famous talcum powder, the most widely used product for children for decades, in addition to its use in cosmetics due to its moisture-resistant properties.
This has sparked a wave of concern and controversy among mothers on social media, raising questions about the safety of children’s products that have been used for decades in millions of homes.
The story dates back to 2019, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration acknowledged the presence of the carcinogenic substance “asbestos” in samples of the powder. This substance occurs naturally in the same talc mines and can contaminate the final product if not purified with extreme precision.
Johnson & Johnson is facing a major legal storm in America, with over 60,000 lawsuits filed against it in 40 states.
The most recent ruling came from a Pennsylvania state court, which ordered compensation of $250,000 for the family of a woman who died of ovarian cancer after years of using talc.
Despite the company’s denial of the allegations and its assurance of product safety, it permanently withdrew talcum powder from the U.S. and Canadian markets in 2020, replacing it with a new product based on “cornstarch.”
This move came after the company failed to convince the courts to accept a comprehensive $8.9 billion settlement to close all open legal cases against it, leaving the door open for thousands of victims to claim their rights.
Trade Wars or Genuine Concern?
The episode (2026/02/14) of the program “Networks” monitored the platforms’ interaction with the talcum powder crisis and the legal pursuits targeting the world’s most famous company in children’s products.
One user questioned the motives behind these cases, considering them part of corporate conflict, tweeting:
For years, my mother used it on my whole body and my siblings’ bodies, and nothing happened to us… They definitely want to harm the company because it’s the most famous in talcum powder, God knows best… Cheap wars.
Another user expressed horror at the potential delayed side effects on her children, saying:
Oh God, your mercy, does this mean we won’t be free from these disasters? If there are all these cases and they are paying, it means the news is true. What should we do, we who were never informed and kept using it for our children?
Another user believed that the admissions by official bodies in America settle the debate, writing:
The cases are not new, and the company did not contradict the U.S. Drug Administration… and it cannot. Even if it’s just one sample, who can prove that the rest does not contain this substance?
Another user called for a complete ban on the use of talc in all industries, commenting:
Honestly, it’s something scary, but they must prohibit the company from producing talc. The problem is that more than one company produces it. How will we know if it’s carcinogenic or not… Its use must be banned.
