The family of a Mississippi woman who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer is holding Johnson & Johnson responsible, claiming her death is a result of baby powder use.

The now-deceased Bennie K. was born in 1935 and used Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder for nearly her whole life in her genital region.

Her family claims that she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer as a direct result of the product.

Bennie died from ovarian cancer on June 29, 2013.

The family claims that Johnson & Johnson is responsible for Bennie’s death and have filed a legal claim against the company.

Johnson & Johnson has marketed and advertised its baby powder product as providing “freshness” and “comfort,” claiming that it eliminates friction on the skin. Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder is also marketed as absorbing excess wetness and helping keep skin feeling dry and comfortable.

They also claim that it has been “clinically proven gentle and mild.” This baby powder lawsuit claims that Johnson & Johnson compelled women through their advertising to use their product to mask odors and encourages women to “use every day to help feel soft, fresh and comfortable.”

The problem, according to many critics, is that Johnson & Johnson knew about possible cancer risks associated with their product, yet continued to aggressively market the baby powder anyway.

As far back as 1971 the first study was conducted that suggested a connection between talc powder and cancer, according to this family’s baby powder cancer lawsuit.

In 1982, the first epidemiologic study was performed regarding talc powder use in the female genital area. This showed that women who used talc powder on their genital area had a 92% increased risk of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer than those who did not use it.

As a result of this study, Johnson & Johnson was warned by the research team to place a warning on their label. Johnson & Johnson did not do so.

Since that time, 22 more studies have been performed that show this same elevated risk of ovarian cancer.

One study even demonstrated that 10 of 13 studied ovarian tumors had deeply embedded talc particles present, potentially increasing a woman’s chances of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

In 1993, the United States National Toxicology Program (NTP) published a study that listed talc powder as a carcinogen. In response to this study, a group of talc business-interested parties included Johnson & Johnson formed the Talc Interested Party Task Force (TIPTF).

The TIPTF set out to defend talc use and prevent regulation of the industry.

In light of these studies, many women have decided to file or join baby powder cancer lawsuits against the talc powder manufacturer Johnson & Johnson.

The family of Bennie, the decedent, is raising claims of failure to warn, defective manufacture and design, negligence, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, violations of consumer protection laws, negligent misrepresentation, civil conspiracy, acting in concert, aiding and abetting, wrongful death and survival action.

The Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawsuit is Case No. 3:16-cv-00926 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Northern Division.