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Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond and 42 other attorneys general have reached a $700 million nationwide settlement to resolve allegations related to the marketing of Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder and body powder products that contained talc.
The consent judgment filed in the lawsuit addresses allegations that the company deceptively promoted and misled consumers in advertisements related to the safety and purity of some of its talc powder products. As part of the lawsuit, Johnson & Johnson has agreed to stop the U.S. manufacture and sale of its baby powder and body powder products containing talc.
Johnson & Johnson sold such products for more than a hundred years. After the coalition of states began investigating, the company stopped distributing and selling these products in the United States and more recently ended global sales. While this lawsuit targeted the deceptive marketing of these products, numerous other lawsuits filed by private plaintiffs in class actions raised allegations that talc causes serious health issues including mesothelioma and ovarian cancer.
Under the consent judgment, Johnson & Johnson:
- Has ceased and not resumed the manufacturing, marketing, promotion, sale and distribution of all baby and body powder products and cosmetic powder products that contain talcum powder, including, but not limited to, Johnson’s Baby Powder and Johnson & Johnson’s Shower to Shower (“Covered Products”) in the U.S.
- Shall permanently stop the manufacture of any Covered Products in the U.S. either directly or indirectly through any third party.
- Shall permanently stop the marketing and promotion of any Covered Products in the U.S. either directly or indirectly through any third party.
- Shall permanently stop the sale or distribution any Covered Products in the U.S. either directly or indirectly through any third party.
“This landmark settlement signifies a tremendous step forward in consumer protection for Oklahomans and all Americans,” Drummond said. “With research underscoring the connection between these products and ovarian cancer, this settlement is a responsible course of action.”
As part of the settlement, which is pending judicial approval, Oklahoma will receive $9.8 million.
Texas, Florida and North Carolina led the multistate settlement. In addition to Oklahoma, the agreement was joined by Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.