Asbestos, a toxic, cancer-causing substance, is well-known to be dangerous to human health. This is not new information to anyone in South Carolina, and yet for decades Johnson & Johnson allegedly knew that their products were contaminated with asbestos, and said nothing. Evidence indicates that the company actively tried to cover up ongoing asbestos exposure suffered by their customers.

Johnson & Johnson uses talc in its popular baby powder product, which many women use on not only their children, but also themselves. Talc has not been totally proven to be safe, but it is often contaminated with asbestos. This is because asbestos is frequently found wherever talc is mined, making contamination a frightening reality. According to one report, completely purifying talc is impossible.

Various global health organizations recognize that asbestos is a carcinogen that causes ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. That did not stop Johnson & Johnson from misleading the Federal Drug Administration back in the 1970s, when it hid testing results that showed asbestos had been found in its baby powder. The company spent decades insisting that even when asbestos was present in its products that they were still totally safe for consumers to use.

The women who have since filed lawsuits against the company say otherwise. Women who used Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder for years or even decades before developing ovarian cancer are trying to hold the company responsible for its actions that put them and countless others at risk for serious health issues. However, the company still claims it did nothing wrong, and at this point it is unclear if it will continue to manufacture its iconic and possibly dangerous iconic product.

Consumers have a right to purchase products that are free from hidden dangers. When companies like Johnson & Johnson actively hide knowledge regarding possible asbestos exposure, it is South Carolina consumers who suffer. While the damage may have already been done, victims can pursue legal compensation for their injuries which, if successful, can also help influence change that protects future consumers.