Are There Dangers Associated with Baby Powder with Talc?

While most of us are familiar with Johnson & Johnson baby powder with talc, what some may not know is that the past decade has included thousands of women being diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using J & J’s talc-based products for feminine hygiene. Baby powder with talc was developed by J & J researchers in the 1890s; the silky feel and iconic smell made it a staple in homes across the United States.

The product took off, bringing in as much as $400 million per year by 2018. The powder has been sold for almost 130 years, despite the fact that the dangers of talc fibers were first discovered in the 1930s. Surgeons performing peritonitis surgery on their patients dusted their surgical gloves with talcum powder, only to find later that the talc fibers caused inflammation in the abdominal cavities of the patients.

By 1971, several more alarm bells were rung regarding the safety of talc. Ovarian tumors removed from women with ovarian cancer had talc fibers embedded in them, signaling yet again that talcum powder, when used in the perineal region, could cause an increase in the incidence of ovarian cancer. Even though most other powder manufacturers exchanged the talc for cornstarch to make their product safer, J & J continued selling baby powder with talc and Shower to Shower with talc.

Where Does the Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Litigation in Portland, Maine Stand?

Since 2009, lawsuits have been stacking up against Johnson & Johnson from women who developed ovarian cancer after years of using J & J’s baby powder with talc, or Shower to Shower with talc. In the first lawsuit in 2009, the jury found J & J liable for Deane Berg’s injuries. Many more trials were decided in favor of the plaintiffs, with some of the awards being in the millions, and even billions.

Johnson & Johnson appealed each of these decisions, however, in June 2020, a Missouri Appeals Court upheld the largest judgement, awarded to 22 women in 2018. J & J has vowed to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. There are currently as many as 20,000 lawsuits pending against Johnson & Johnson by women who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using J & J baby powder with talc for feminine hygiene. Many of these lawsuits have been filed by women in the state of Maine.

Has J & J Baby Powder with Talc Been Recalled in the U.S.?

The FDA in the United States has little authority over beauty products. Despite maintaining their talc-based products are perfectly safe, Johnson & Johnson discontinued the manufacture of its talc-based products in May 2020 in the United States and Canada. A J & J spokesperson claimed the move was the result of a decline in sales and that the decline in sales was the result of the “constant barrage of litigation.”

Have the Statutes of Limitations Passed for My Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Case?

You may have heard of the statutes of limitations; these are laws that govern the amount of time you have in which to file a product liability claim. While the statutes of limitations are very important, the statutes can be impacted by a variety of issues. Because of this, it is important that you speak to a knowledgeable baby powder ovarian cancer attorney who can answer your questions and correctly interpret the statutes of limitations for your Portland, Maine claim against Johnson & Johnson.

How Could Consulting with an Portland, Maine Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawyer Be Beneficial?

It can be devastating to receive a diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer; most cases of ovarian cancer are not found early, resulting in a poor outcome for many women. If you are one of the thousands of women who received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer after using J & J talc-based products for feminine hygiene, you may have a talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuit. It could be very beneficial for your future to speak to an experienced talcum powder ovarian cancer attorney from Sullo & Sullo as soon as possible.