PHOENIX – Attorney General Kris Mayes and 42 other state attorneys general reached a $700 million nationwide settlement to resolve allegations related to the marketing of Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder and body powder products that contained talc.
“Today's settlement is a significant victory for Arizonans and consumers nationwide,” said Attorney General Mayes. “For decades, Johnson & Johnson misled the public about the safety of its talc products. By stopping the manufacture and sale of these harmful products and imposing these penalties, we are protecting the health and well-being of countless individuals and ensuring accountability on behalf of consumers.”
The consent judgment filed in this lawsuit addresses allegations that Johnson & Johnson deceptively promoted and misled consumers in advertisements related to the safety and purity of some of its talc powder products. As part of the lawsuit, Johnson & Johnson has agreed to stop the manufacture and sale of its baby powder and body powder products that contain talc in the United States.
Johnson & Johnson sold such products for over a hundred years. After the coalition of states began investigating, the company stopped distributing and selling these products in the United States and more recently ended global sales. While this lawsuit targeted the deceptive marketing of these products, numerous other lawsuits filed by private plaintiffs in class actions raised allegations that talc causes serious health issues including mesothelioma and ovarian cancer.
Under the consent judgment, Johnson & Johnson:
- Has ceased and not resumed the manufacturing, marketing, promotion, sale, and distribution of all baby and body powder products and cosmetic powder products that contain talcum powder, including, but not limited to, Johnson’s Baby Powder and Johnson & Johnson’s Shower to Shower (“Covered Products”) in the United States.
- Shall permanently stop the manufacture of any Covered Products in the United States either directly, or indirectly through any third party.
- Shall permanently stop the marketing and promotion of any Covered Products in the United States either directly, or indirectly through any third party.
- Shall permanently stop the sale or distribution any Covered Products in the United States either directly, or indirectly through any third party.
As part of this settlement, Arizona will receive $15,466,308. The settlement is pending judicial approval.
Arizona, Texas, Florida, and North Carolina led the multistate settlement, with Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin joining.