Massive Verdicts Coming In·67,600+ people have filed

Used baby powder for years? It may have contained asbestos — and J&J allegedly knew.

Johnson & Johnson's most trusted product. In millions of homes. And it may have been giving people cancer.

vs. Johnson & Johnson

The story

It's hard to imagine a more trusted product than Johnson's Baby Powder. Parents dusted it on their babies. Women used it daily for feminine hygiene.

It was in nearly every bathroom in America. What we now know — from J&J's own internal documents — is that the company detected asbestos in their talc as far back as the 1970s. Asbestos is one of the most dangerous known carcinogens.

Rather than pull the product, J&J allegedly manipulated testing to hide the contamination and lobbied against regulation. Thousands of women who used the powder for years developed ovarian cancer. Others developed mesothelioma, a cancer directly caused by asbestos exposure.

J&J tried to dodge the lawsuits through a controversial legal maneuver — creating a shell company and having it declare bankruptcy to limit payouts. Courts rejected this scheme multiple times. Now, with over 67,000 cases pending and massive verdicts rolling in, J&J is facing one of the largest product liability cases in American history.

“Women describe using baby powder every single day for decades — many starting in their teens — only to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Some have lost their lives. For many families, the betrayal of trust is as devastating as the diagnosis.”

Reports from affected people

Health problems linked to this

●Ovarian cancer

●Mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdomen)

Who's affected

✓You regularly used Johnson's Baby Powder or other talc-based powder products

✓You used them for an extended period (typically years)

✓You were diagnosed with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma

Probably doesn't apply if

✕Only used cornstarch-based powders (check the label — must be talc-based)

✕Very infrequent or one-time use

What you'd need to file

1Your history of talc product use (which products, how long, how often)

2Medical records showing your cancer diagnosis

3Pathology reports if available

Timeline

1970s

J&J finds asbestos in talc

Internal documents show J&J detected asbestos contamination in their talc supply — and chose not to disclose it.

2018

Reuters investigation explodes

A landmark investigation reveals decades of internal J&J documents about asbestos contamination.

2020

J&J pulls talc-based powder from US/Canada

After years of lawsuits, J&J discontinues talc-based Baby Powder in North America.

2023-2024

Bankruptcy scheme rejected

J&J's attempt to limit payouts through a subsidiary bankruptcy is thrown out by courts — twice.

Dec 2025

Massive verdicts

$1.5 billion verdict in Baltimore (single mesothelioma case — the largest ever in talc litigation). Plus $40M in California and $65.5M in Minnesota.

People are asking

I used baby powder but I'm not sick. Should I worry?

Using talc powder increases risk but doesn't mean you'll definitely get sick. Talk to your doctor about your exposure history and appropriate cancer screenings.

Didn't J&J stop selling Baby Powder?

J&J stopped selling the talc-based version in the US and Canada in 2020, but years of prior use still caused harm. They now sell a cornstarch-based version.

I used it on my baby. Could my child be affected?

The primary link is between long-term personal use (especially for feminine hygiene) and ovarian cancer or mesothelioma. The lawsuits focus on the users themselves, but talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

Named products & brands

Johnson's Baby PowderShower to ShowerGold Bond (talc-based)Other talc-based body powders

Could this affect you?

Quick check · 30 seconds

1.Did you regularly use Johnson's Baby Powder or another talc-based powder?

2.Did you use it for several years or more?

3.Have you been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma?

Not legal advice. Informal screening only.

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Heads up: This is not legal advice. We're not lawyers. This is educational info to help you understand what's going on. Talk to an actual attorney about your situation.