In a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, Imerys Talc America, and Luzenac America Inc., a patient claims talcum powder causes cancer.

Plaintiff Rosemary P. says that for many years she used Johnson & Johnson baby powder, Shower to Shower, and other hygiene products that contained talc. She says that she used it for intimate personal hygiene, and that this use of the product was consistent with the products’ advertising. Rosemary claims that she developed ovarian cancer because of her use of the product.

According to Rosemary, Johnson & Johnson, as well as Imerys and Luzenac who supplied the talc, knew talc was linked to ovarian cancer, but failed to tell consumers like Rosemary. Rosemary claims that the company intentionally concealed information that talcum powder causes cancer so that consumers would continue to purchase the products.

Rosemary says that had she known that talcum powder causes cancer she would not have purchased the product, and would not have used it for intimate hygiene purposes. She claims that she, like many women, specifically used the Shower to Shower product on her genitals and perineum because it was advertised for this use, and was not aware that regular, intimate use of the product was dangerous.

According to the lawsuit, Johnson & Johnson’s advertisement of baby powder containing talc suggested that the product was beneficial and associated with cleanliness and good health.

The talc powder class action lawsuit cites a number of Johnson & Johnson advertisements of the products, referencing the company’s advertising slogans, including “for you, use every day to help feel soft, fresh, and comfortable,” “a sprinkle a day keeps the odor away,” “use Shower to Shower to feel dry, fresh, and comfortable throughout the day,” and “Shower to Shower can be used all over your body.”

These messages allegedly conveyed to consumers that the products were safe for regular use, and were most advantageous when used regularly and in intimate areas. To the contrary, alleges the lawsuit, the use of talc in intimate areas is dangerous to human health.

To support her claim that Johnson & Johnson and the two talc producers knew or should have known that talcum power causes cancer, Rosemary alleges that studies have linked talc powder to ovarian cancer since at least 1971.

She also claims that the companies had the option to use an alternative product that would not cause cancer, cornstarch, but actively chose not to. She notes that cornstarch performs many of the same functions that talc powder does, including providing drying properties of talc powder

She argues that because of the companies’ negligence and failure to warn, as well as a misrepresentation of their product, she was injured. She claims that she was physically, emotionally, and financially injured because of her development of ovarian cancer, which she claims was a direct result of her use of Johnson & Johnson’s talc powder. 

The Johnson & Johnson Talc Powder Cancer Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-02239, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.