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Johnson & Johnson to end sales of talc-based powder


Johnson & Johnson is saying goodbye to talc-based baby powder. The company announced it will end sales of the substance worldwide next year and will replace the key ingredient with cornstarch.

Anyone living in America won’t notice a change. The company made the switch in the United States back in 2020.

Talcum powder, which is still found in dozens of other products like cosmetics, medications, gum and deodorant, has had a controversial health history. Though Johnson & Johnson said its talc-based powder is safe, there have been tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging the substance can cause cancer, CNN reported. And those health concerns are not completely unfounded.

For decades, talc has been applied to all sorts of consumer products. In the 1990s, the Food and Drug Administration ordered condom makers to stop using talc on their products over health worries for women, according to the New York Times. There have been significant scientific literature and studies about the possible links between the use of talc-based powders in the genital area and ovarian cancer. However, the FDA said, “These studies have not conclusively demonstrated such a link, or if such a link existed, what risk factors might be involved.”

And the Journal of the American Medical Association, which conducted the largest study on the matter to date, said in a 2020 report that “there was not a statistically significant association between use of powder in the genital area and ovarian cancer.”

Despite ongoing reports from the government and JAMA, there are ongoing lawsuits — and advertisements for lawsuits — based on the claim of a connection between talc and cancer. And the health concerns have been significant enough to turn a lot of people off the Johnson & Johnson product. The company said its decision to drop talc altogether will simplify product selection and meet global demand.

“We continuously evaluate and optimize our portfolio to best position the business for long-term growth,” the company said in a statement. “This transition will help simplify our product offerings, deliver sustainable innovation, and meet the needs of our consumers, customers and evolving global trends.”

MAHMOUD BENNETT: JOHNSON AND JOHNSON IS ENDING THE SALE OF ITS BABY POWDER CONTAINING TALC *WORLDWIDE*

THE SIGNATURE INGREDIENT WILL BE REPLACED WITH CORNSTARCH STARTING NEXT YEAR

THAT WON’T AFFECT YOU IF YOU’RE LIVING IN AMERICA – THEY ALREADY MADE THAT SHIFT HERE BACK IN 2020

BUT TALCUM POWDER WHICH IS FOUND IN DOZENS OF COSMETIC BRANDS – HAS BEEN AT THE CENTER OF THOUSANDS OF LAWSUITS ALLEGING IT CAN CAUSE OVARIAN CANCER

AND WHILE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON SAYS THEIR TALC IS SAFE – THOSE HEALTH CONCERNS ARE NOT UNFOUNDED

JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BACKSTORY:
TALC WAS ROUTINELY APPLIED TO SURGICAL GLOVES AND CONDOMS UNTIL AROUND THE 90’S BEFORE THE FDA TOLD MANUFACTURERS TO STOP- TODAY IT REMAINS IN DOZENS OF PRODUCTS RANGING FROM LIPSTICK TO DEODORANT

ACCORDING TO SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE -THERE ARE POSSIBLE LINKS BETWEEN THE USE OF POWDERS CONTAINING TALC IN THE GENITAL AREA AND OVARIAN CANCER – IT’S JUST NOT
CONCLUSIVE *AT LEAST TO THE FDA*

*OR* THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION WHICH CONDUCTED THE LARGEST STUDY ON THE MATTER. THEY FOUND QUOTE NOT A STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATION

STILL ALL THIS ATTENTION ON TALC IS ENOUGH TO SWAY PEOPLE AWAY FROM IT
JOHNSON AND JOHNSON SAYS THEIR LATEST DECISION TO DROP IT WILL SIMPLIFY ITS PRODUCT SELECTION AND MEET EVOLVING GLOBAL TRENDS.