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Cosmetic Talc Litigation Media Coverage 12/13/2016
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Baby Powder Under Fire
Dec 12, 2016 | Bangkok Post
By Arusa Pisuthipan
2016 was a controversial year for multi-national manufacturer of pharmaceutical and personal hygiene products Johnson & Johnson following the death of American woman Jacqueline Fox, 62, who died from ovarian cancer in October 2015.
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Dec 12, 2016 | Bangkok Post
By Arusa Pisuthipan
2016 was a controversial year for multi-national manufacturer of pharmaceutical and personal hygiene products Johnson & Johnson following the death of American woman Jacqueline Fox, 62, who died from ovarian cancer in October 2015.
Fox was reported to have been sprinkling Johnson & Johnson baby powder on her underwear every day since she was a teen. She then learned from a commercial after her diagnosis that long-term use of the baby powder might be associated with ovarian cancer.
Fox was among more than 1,200 women from across the US who sued the company for failing to warn consumers of the dangers associated with talc, the mineral used in its baby powder. In the end, Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay US$72 million (2.5 billion baht) to Fox’s family, making this case the first in which monetary compensation was awarded.
Since then, fans of the powder around the globe have started to raise eyebrows and wondered whether the talc-based powder is safe to use. An article published by the American Cancer Society stated that to get the answer, it is important to distinguish between talc that contains asbestos and talc that is asbestos-free. Talc that has asbestos can potentially lead to cancer if inhaled, but this type of talc is not used in modern consumer products. The article, however, said that “the evidence about asbestos-free talc, which is still widely used, is less clear”.
Notwithstanding, as of last month, Johnson & Johnson lost its third straight trial in an onslaught of lawsuits claiming its talc-based products caused ovarian cancer. The three court cases have cost the company a total of US$195 million (6.82 billion baht), according to Reuters.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/family-and-health/1158277/meat-and-mosquitos-raised-health-concerns-in-2016
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