J&J talcum baby powder to be pulled off shelves 128 years on |18 August 2022
Sales of the Johnson and Johnson brand talcum-based baby powders are to be halted globally as from 2023 (Photo source: BBC)
Parents and doting mothers who once relied on the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) brand talcum-based baby powders to prevent nappy rash among other cosmetic uses will soon have to find an alternative, as sales of the product are to be halted globally as from 2023.
Following thousands – over 35,000 – lawsuits from consumers, the company last week announced that it would be transitioning to an all cornstarch-based baby powder portfolio, which is already being sold in numerous countries globally.
J&J officially stopped selling the product in the U.S and Canada over two years ago, as legal challenges flooded in with consumers claiming that its talc-based product is contaminated with asbestos, a cancer-causing carcinogen.
Johnson’s baby powder has been sold and trusted for around 130 years, since 1894. The product has over the years grown in popularity to become the symbol of the company’s family-friendly image.
Within the local context, the Maternity division within the health ministry advises expectant mothers against the use of baby powder for newborns and growing babies on account of safety concerns and scandals in the past.
Additionally, as confirmed by a midwife at the Seychelles Hospital, health authorities recommend against it because of the risk of respiratory problems to babies in the event that they inhale the particles, the cause of possible irritation and respiratory issues. Instead, parents are advised to use baby lotion, and in the case of extreme skin dryness in babies, baby oil, at their own discretion.
Seychelles NATION contacted Capital Trading (Pty) Ltd, one of the main importers and distributors of J&J products in Seychelles, in the hopes of discovering how popular the powder-based product is among the local market, where J&J is considered as a renowned, quality product. However, the general manager declined to make any comments as to the volume imported and sold through the company at any given time.
Ahead of the transition by J&J, Capital Trading will be making the switch to South African brand ‘Purity’ which offers a range of products catering to both mothers and babies, from skincare and healthcare to nutrition and food products. According to an employee, the main reason behind the switch is not necessarily health nor safety concerns, but rather the fact that J&J branded products are becoming increasingly expensive and thus unaffordable to local consumers.
For consumers, it would seem that most young parents are aware of the possible dangers of the product, opting to completely omit it from their babies’ routines.
Eloise Françoise is presently in her third trimester and in the process of preparing for the arrival of the newest addition to her family of three. The young mother has been sure to stock up on all the essentials – diapers, wipes and laundry detergent specially formulated for babies, but has omitted powder-based products from the list.
“I had my first child five years ago and at the time, I remember buying the powder well ahead of the birth as I was used to seeing the older members of my family use it on babies and toddlers routinely after a shower, or in the case of heat rashes. But upon conducting some research, and based on what I was eventually advised by the antenatal professionals, I deemed that it would not be safe for my baby, and chose not to make use of it,” Ms Françoise stated.
Instead, she opted for Sudocrem, an over-the-counter medicated cream applied primarily for the treatment of nappy rash among other skincare ailments, which is also popular among local consumers.
On the contrary, Georgette Roseline swears by the product, to care for the sensitive skin of her ten-year-old son with Down syndrome.
“My youngest son who has Down syndrome has extremely sensitive skin, and is prone to rashes and itchiness. This means we have to be extra careful what products we use, to prevent further damage to his skin. Most people may not know, but people with the condition are very likely to suffer from different skin conditions,” she noted.
“In the case of my son, we tested out a few products before finally concluding that baby powder is suited to his dry skin, keeping him dry when he sweats and preventing the breakout of rashes,” she said.
Talc and asbestos can naturally form so closely together that mining practices cannot keep them separated.
As recently as 2019, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2019 reported asbestos contamination in a bottle of J&J baby powder, forcing the company to recall an associated batch of products.
Lawsuits stemming specifically from the company’s talcum powder has cost the pharmaceutical company billions in settlements.
In October 2020 the company settled around a thousand talc-related lawsuits for over $100 million, following a huge payout of $2.1 billion to 22 women who claimed the product caused them to develop ovarian cancer in June of the same year.
Settlements in individual lawsuits have also cost millions, with the most notable case in 2019 whereby Donna Olsen was awarded $325 million, upon claiming she developed mesothelioma by using the company’s powder.
Laura Pillay