A new lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson alleges that the company intentionally hid the ovarian cancer and baby powder link from consumers.

Plaintiff Julia W. and her husband Kent W. recently filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, Imerys Talc America Inc., and Personal Care Products Council, alleging that the defendants did not disclose the ovarian cancer and baby powder link.

Johnson & Johnson is a company which manufactures and sells products in a variety of different industries. They market their baby powder as a “symbol of freshness and comfort” to eliminate friction on the skin.

The lawsuit alleges that Johnson & Johnson targets women in their advertising by stating “For you, use every day to help feel soft, fresh, and comfortable”.

Imerys Talc America is a talc distributor which provides talc to Johnson & Johnson for their baby powder products. Personal Care Products Counsel is a national trade association representing the personal care and cosmetics industry. The Personal Care Products Counsel works with local, state, and federal government agencies on issues related to personal care and cosmetics, including the regulation and marketing of talc based body powders.

Julia says she started using Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder in 1972. She alleges she used the product all over her body, including near her genital area. In October 2010, Julia was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She says she continued to use the baby powder, not understanding the ovarian cancer and baby powder link, until 2016.

Julia argues that the ovarian cancer and baby powder link has been known for years but Johnson & Johnson refuses to take the product off the market.

In 1982, the first study regarding the ovarian cancer and baby powder link was performed. The study found that using talc powders on the genital area increased risk of ovarian cancer by 92 percent. Dr. Cramer, the lead scientist on the study, advised Johnson & Johnson to place a warning on its label.

Since Dr. Cramer’s study in 1982, there have been 27 studies regarding the ovarian cancer and baby powder link, according to the couple’s complaint. Nearly all of these studies have found a significant increase in risk for ovarian cancer associated with genital talc use in women.

Scientists believe that talc particles can travel up the female reproductive system into the ovaries where they cause cellular damage that leads to the development of ovarian cancer.

The ovarian cancer and baby powder link is not the first piece of evidence that talc may be carcinogenic. In 1993, the U.S. National Toxicology Program published a study on talc which found the mineral to be a carcinogen. In response to the study, the Personal Care Products Counsel allegedly formed a committee to launch a public, aggressive pro-talc campaign. Plaintiffs claim the Counsel allegedly released false information about the ovarian cancer and baby powder link so that the government could not classify it as a carcinogen.

Julia and Kent accuse all of the defendants of purposefully misleading the public about the ovarian cancer and baby powder link. Julia claims that, if she had known the truth about the ovarian cancer and baby powder link, she would not have used the product and likely would not have developed ovarian cancer.

Julia and Kent accuse the defendants of failure to warn, defective manufacturer and design, breach of warranty, negligence, negligent misrepresentation, fraud, violation of consumer protection laws, fraudulent concealment, civil conspiracy, and loss of consortium. They seek damages for personal injury, economic loss, loss of services, and loss of consortium.

The Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuit is Case No. 3:18-cv-08002-FLW-LHG in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.