The SHOCKING Reason Why Johnson’s Baby Powder May Be Bad For You
We’ve all assumed that products meant for babies are supposed to be the safest. Right? Wrong. A recent lawsuit in the US is causing quite a tizzy right now, especially because it centres around a product that all of us have used at some point — either as little children or well into adulthood. The product in question is Johnson’s Baby Powder, and the reason why it’s in the eye of a legal storm currently will shock you.
A Missouri state jury recently ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay US$72 million to the family of a woman who died of ovarian cancer caused by her use of their baby powder for decades. The civil suit was filed by Jackie Fox of Birmingham, Alabama, and claimed that she used baby powder for feminine hygiene purposes for more than 35 years. That is until she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer three years ago. She died at age 62 in October last year. The lawsuit alleges that the company knew its talcum powder raised the risk of ovarian cancer in women but did not warn consumers.
Fox’s case is the first among 60 plaintiffs to come to trial. As per the ruling, her family is entitled to $10 million in actual damages and $62 million in punitive damages.
While we’re still reeling from the shocking revelation, it’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time the personal care products giant has come under the scanner. In May 2009, the company was pushed into eliminating questionable ingredients from its baby and adult personal care products by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. After being embroiled in three years of petitions, bad press, and threats of boycott, in 2012 the company finally agreed to drop ingredients like 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde — both of which are considered carcinogens — from all products by 2015.
Carol Goodrich, spokeswoman for J&J said in a statement provided to multiple news outlets, “We have no higher responsibility than the health and safety of consumers, and we are disappointed with the outcome of the trial. We sympathise with the plaintiff’s family but firmly believe the safety of cosmetic talc is supported by decades of scientific evidence.”
I don’t know about you, but I’m among the few women who ALWAYS has Johnson’s baby products lying about the house. I love the baby shampoo for how clarifying it is without stripping my scalp of its natural oils, and nothing takes off my make-up better than their baby oil (plus the smell is heavenly). Apart from this, a regular feature in my bathroom vanity is their baby powder. I don’t care what season it is — summer or winter — my mornings aren’t complete without a light dusting of this powder. It’s sort of like my comfort blanket. So it’s only obvious that I’m distraught (no exaggeration) and disheartened by this recent turn of events.
What do you think of this ruling? Tell us in the comments below!
