Use of the Johnson's Baby Powder for feminine hygiene allegedly causes ovarian cancer, but the company denies it
The Johnson's Baby Powder has been in the middle of other such lawsuits linking it to ovarian cancer (Credit: Mike Mozart/Flickr) A US court has ordered multinational company Johnson & Johnson to pay US $417 million to a woman who claimed that using its popular Johnson’s Baby Powder for feminine hygiene caused her to develop ovarian cancer. The amount awarded in the case is the highest among a series of such lawsuits against the company’s Baby Powder.
The 63-year-old Eva Echeverria, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2007, said she started using the product as an 11-year-old and continued doing so after cancer detection, unaware of the powder’s hazards.
As per news agency AP, Echeverria alleged Johnson & Johnson failed to warn consumers about talcum powder's cancer risks, in spite of being in the know of studies linking ovarian cancer to talc use in the genital area.
J&J’s lawyers countered saying that federal agencies have not found that talc products are carcinogenic.
As per the New York Times, Johnson & Johnson spokesperson Carol Goodrich, said the company will appeal the verdict in a superior court and was preparing for additional trials. The company “will continue to defend the safety of Johnson’s Baby Powder,” she said.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer in 2006 classified talcum powder as a possible human carcinogen if used in the female genital area.
Besides the latest case, J&J has been put to trial in other similar cases where women sued J&J for its allegedly carcinogenic product. In the three cases, juries awarded damages of $72 million, $70.1 million and $55 million, for a combined total of $307.6 million, said the Hindustan Times.
Related Story:
Here’s why some cancer cells can survive radiation
Incidence of childhood cancer has increased: Lancet study
For the first time, study establishes link between PM 2.5 and breast cancer
Women's cancers: curable for the rich, often a death sentence for the poor
What’s the link between oral contraceptive pills and cancer among women?
IEP Resources:
Global trends and predictions in ovarian cancer mortality
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.