About Talc Powder
Don’t Lose Your Rights.
If you or a loved one has a history of using talc-based powders and has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, you may be entitled to financial compensation from the makers of these products.
Talc – A Natural Mineral with Hidden Risks
Talc is a mineral that is found in deposits worldwide. It’s made up of silicon, magnesium, and oxygen and, of all the minerals, it is considered the softest. The main supplier of cosmetic-grade talc is Imerys, Inc., a mining company formerly known as Luzenac America, Inc. Talc’s most commercially-useful characteristic is its ability to absorb moisture, including both water-based and oil-based human moisture and perspiration. Crushing raw talc transforms it to a powder. “Talcum” powder and other consumer products contain talc – including Johnson’s® Baby Powder and Shower to Shower® Body Powder (a brand originally owned by Johnson & Johnson and then acquired by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. in 2012).
Johnson’s® Baby Powder & Shower to Shower® – The Two Most Commonly Used Talc-Containing Powders
Throughout the many years it has been selling Johnson’s® Baby Powder and Shower to Shower® Body Powder, Johnson & Johnson has used talc as the main ingredient for each. First introduced in 1894, Johnson’s® Baby Powder contained over 99% talc. Known for its moisture-absorbing qualities, the talc eased baby’s diaper rash. Over time, Johnson & Johnson expanded its “powder market” by focusing on women’s use of both Johnson’s® Baby Powder and the more recently created Shower to Shower® Body Powder. In 2012, Johnson & Johnson sold the Shower to Shower® Body Powder brand to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.
Talc & Ovarian Cancer – A Hidden Risk
Over the last several decades, studies indicating a link between genital use of talc-based powders and ovarian cancer have been published. Despite these studies, at no time did Johnson & Johnson include any warning about the association between a women’s application of talc-containing Johnson’s® Baby Powder and Shower to Shower® Body Powder to her genital area and the potential increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. Company documents - disclosed for the first time in a recent trial - indicate that Johnson & Johnson was aware of the studies and engaged in a concentrated campaign to discredit them. Collaborating with its trade association, Johnson & Johnson hired scientists, lobbyists and marketing firms to promote the notion that Talc was safe and resisting any pressure to add a warning to its label. Unlike warnings and labeling for prescription drugs, those for consumer cosmetic products like Johnson’s® Baby Powder and Shower to Shower® Body Powder remain basically unregulated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
