Talcum Baby Powder brand, popularly used by many mothers in Nigeria and across the globe, will be off the shell globally by 2023.
This was revealed by Johnson & Johnson(J&J), an American pharmaceutical company in a recent statement.
According to the company, the “commercial decision” to transition to an all cornstarch-based baby powder portfolio is part of a “worldwide portfolio assessment” by its consumer health division.
This move came after the continued legal battles for the health conglomerate, with thousands of consumer safety lawsuits alleging that the company’s talc-based products have caused certain cancers in users and accusing J&J of not disclosing cancer risks.
In a recent report, J&J faces around 38,000 lawsuits from consumers and their survivors claiming its talc products caused cancer due to contamination with asbestos, a known carcinogen.
However, J&J has always maintained that the product is safe. Johnson’s talc-based powders were discontinued in the US and Canada in May 2020 already, a move that J&J described at the time as another “commercial decision”.
J&J said “Our position on the safety of our cosmetic talc remains unchanged. We stand firmly behind the decades of independent scientific analysis by medical experts around the world that confirms talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer,”
The company added, “We continuously evaluate and optimise our portfolio to best position the business for long-term growth. This transition will help simplify our product offerings, deliver sustainable innovation, and meet the needs of our consumers, customers, and evolving global trends.
“Cornstarch-based Johnson’s Baby Powder is already sold in countries around the world. Johnson’s is a flagship global brand of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health and we remain fully committed to ensuring Johnson’s products are loved by parents and families for years to come.”