Breaking: Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder Sales Banned In US & Canada Due To Links To Cancer

Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson on Tuesday announced that it would stop selling talc-based baby powder in the United States and Canada, following a court verdict that forbids it from selling the product due to the fears that it causes cancer.

The company has long denied claims that the talc powder it uses contains cancer-causing asbestos but has nonetheless been taken to court several thousands of times over the allegations.

In a statement, Johnson & Johnson said it remained “steadfastly confident” in the product’s safety and would “vigorously” defend against the lawsuits, noting that all guilty verdicts passed against the company have been overturned.

“As part of a portfolio assessment related to Covid-19, in March, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health stopped shipping hundreds of items in the US and Canada to prioritise high-demand products and to allow for appropriate social distancing in manufacturing and distribution facilities,” the statement said.

Existing stocks of the powder will be sold in the US and Canada until they run out, the company said, and the product will remain for sale in countries where there is “significantly higher consumer demand.”

AFP