Johnson & Johnson (J&J) announced on Thursday that it would cease selling talc-based baby powder internationally in 2023, more than two years after it stopped selling the product in the United States.
“As part of a worldwide portfolio evaluation, we have made the commercial decision to move to an all cornstarch-based baby powder portfolio,” the company stated, adding that cornstarch-based baby powder is already available in nations worldwide.
J&J stated in 2020 that it will discontinue selling its talc Baby Powder in the United States and Canada due to a drop in demand caused by what it called “misinformation” about the product’s safety amid a torrent of legal challenges.
The firm is facing about 38,000 claims from consumers and their survivors alleging that their talc products caused cancer owing to asbestos exposure, a proven carcinogen.
J&J disputes the accusations, claiming that decades of scientific testing and regulatory approvals have demonstrated that its talc is safe and devoid of asbestos. It reaffirmed the assertion on Thursday when it announced the product’s discontinuance.
