A Johnson & Johnson educator reportedly never saw asbestos reports from the company, according to testimony in the baby powder cancer litigation.

In her video recorded testimony, former Johnson & Johnson consumer educator Nancy Musco revealed that she relied heavily on the work of company researchers and legal professionals when assuring consumers that talc products from the company did not contain asbestos. Despite her assurances to customers, Musco reportedly never examined any of the data or studies that supported Johnson & Johnson’s claims.

“My job was to reassure them that they could feel safe and comfortable using Johnson’s baby powder because there was zero asbestos,” Musco said to Law360 when asked whether or not she had read the reports.

Plaintiff counsel continued this line of questioning during her video recorded testimony, asking her if she could “testify under oath that there were no testing documents showing there was no asbestos in the [talcum powder] or the mines [where the talc originated].” Musco doubled down on her position and told the attorneys that she was only “a communicator.”

Plaintiffs Will R., D’Angela M., Douglas B., and David E. claim that Johnson & Johnson baby powder contains asbestos and that exposure to this product caused them to develop mesothelioma. Their baby powder cancer lawsuits aim to hold Johnson & Johnson accountable.

Talcum powder, which forms the base of many Johnson & Johnson powder products, is made from the natural mineral talc. This powdery mineral is known to absorb moisture and cut down on friction, properties which make it widely used in cosmetic and personal care products.

Evidence regarding the safety of talc is conflicting. Some scientists argue that the mineral is completely safe. Other studies claim that use of the product can cause cancer. For example, studies have linked perineal use of talcum powders with the development on ovarian cancer.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified talc as a probable human carcinogen due to the link between talc and ovarian cancer. However, other agencies disagree.

Although the safety of pure talc remains in contention, scientists agree that talc contaminated with asbestos can cause cancer. Asbestos is another mineral that can be mined near talc. This mineral has repeatedly been shown to cause cancers such as lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Most companies test their talc to make sure that it does not contain asbestos. This helps to protect consumers from the dangerous carcinogen. Recently, consumers have filed lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson, arguing that the company knew or should have known that their products contained asbestos through talc contamination.

In December 2018, Reuters released an investigation claiming that internal reports confirm that the company knew that their talc contained asbestos. In some tests conducted between 1971 and the early 2000s, samples of raw and processed talc reportedly tested positive for small amounts of asbestos. Other internal documents allegedly show that the company influenced regulator decisions in order to keep their products on the market.

The Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuits are Case Nos. L-1809-17, L-932-17, L-7049-16, and L-6040-17 in the Superior Court of the State of New Jersey, County of Middlesex.