Johnson & Johnson faces a large-scale legal challenge in the UK as 3,000 people accuse it of knowingly selling baby powder contaminated with asbestos. The lawsuit, filed by KP Law against Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Kenvue, draws on internal documents and scientific reports alleging the company was aware since the 1960s that its talcum powder contained asbestos-linked minerals, tremolite, and actinolite.
Court filings claim the firm continued to market the product as pure and safe, despite the known cancer risks. The sale of J&J’s talc-based baby powder in the UK ended in 2023, following years of similar litigation in the United States.
J&J has denied all allegations, stating its product “was compliant with any required regulatory standards, did not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer.” Lawyers for the claimants estimate potential damages could reach hundreds of millions of USD, possibly making this the largest product liability case in UK history. Kenvue said, “We sympathise deeply with people living with cancer. We understand that they and their families want answers — that’s why the facts are so important.” The company added that it remains confident in the safety of its products and will continue to defend against what it considers to be unfounded claims, as legal proceedings move forward in the UK courts.
