Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey announced on Wednesday that he, alongside 42 other attorneys general, reached a $700 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson (J&J) over allegations related to pharmaceutical giant’s marketing of baby powder products that contained talcum powder (talc).
As part of the settlement agreement, which is pending judicial approval, the State of Maine will receive more than $4.8 million.
In the nationwide lawsuit against J&J, the attorneys general alleged that the company deceptively marketed certain baby powder and body powder products that contained talc.
The attorneys general claimed that the powder products, sold by J&J since the 1890s, were promoted as safe for daily use, and were advertised by J&J as “clinically proven gentle and mild.”
“Since the 1980s, J&J knew of studies and other support information demonstrating that Talc Powder Products were sometimes tainted with carcinogenic asbestos and that women who used talc-based powders in the genital area had an increased risk of ovarian cancer compared to those women who do not,” the complaint alleged.
The lawsuit alleged that J&J, despite knowing the risks of carcinogenic asbestos contamination in talc powder products, continued to market and sell the products.
J&J, after the coalition of states began their investigation, stopped distributing and selling the powder products in the U.S. and ended global sales of the products.
Under the consent judgment, J&J has ceased the manufacture, marketing, promotion and sale of all baby powder and cosmetic powder products that contain talc.
“While deceiving consumers about the safety of a product is deplorable, it is particularly egregious that the unsafe product at issue was primarily marketed for babies.” Attorney General Frey said Wednesday.
The full settlement document can be read below.
