Johnson & Johnson lost another lawsuit involving its talcum powder. Juries are concluding that the company failed to provide adequate warning on its talc product’s possible links to ovarian cancer. This time a St. Louis jury awarded $55 million to Gloria Ristesund, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2011 after using the powder for decades. Another jury verdict in February saw the family of the late Jacqueline Fox awarded $72 million for similar claims against J&J. At the time Reuters reported that there are currently “about 1,000 [similar] cases” which have been filed in Missouri and “another 200” in New Jersey.
Johnson & Johnson will appeal. The company said in a statement that the product, used correctly, is safe and its labeling is appropriate. “Multiple scientific and regulatory reviews have determined that talc is safe for use in cosmetic products and the labeling on Johnson’s Baby Powder is appropriate,” wrote J&J spokesperson Carol Goodrich. “The jury’s decision goes against 30 years of studies by medical experts around the world that continue to support the safety of cosmetic talc.”
