Overview
- KP Law lodged the UK group action in London on behalf of about 3,000 people who say use of Johnson's Baby Powder from 1965 to 2023 caused ovarian cancer or mesothelioma, with claims valued at more than £1 billion.
- Court filings cite internal documents, including a 1973 memo referencing traces of tremolite or actinolite, and allege the company lobbied for less sensitive testing and sponsored studies to downplay risks.
- Kenvue, which now handles talc litigation outside the US and Canada after its 2023 spin-off from J&J, says the product met regulatory standards, contained no asbestos, and does not cause cancer.
- J&J ended talc-based baby powder sales in the United States in 2020 and withdrew talc globally by 2023, switching to a cornstarch formulation.
- The UK action parallels extensive US litigation, including a recent $966 million mesothelioma verdict and an April rejection of a proposed multibillion-dollar settlement, though English courts typically award smaller, judge-decided damages.