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Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is facing ineligible enactment from thousands of radical successful the UK who are accusing the planetary healthcare elephantine of knowingly selling talcum pulverization contaminated with asbestos.
More than 3,000 radical allege they oregon a household subordinate developed forms of ovarian cancer oregon mesothelioma from utilizing Johnson's babe pulverization betwixt 1965 and 2023.
A suit has been filed by KP Law astatine the High Court successful London seeking damages against J&J and Kenvue UK, which was divided from the erstwhile successful 2023 and present operates arsenic a abstracted business.
The suit alleges J&J's merchandise was contaminated with carcinogenic fibres, including asbestos, and the steadfast concealed the hazard to the nationalist for decades.
J&J stopped selling talc-based babe pulverization successful the US successful 2020, switching to a cornstarch product. It did the aforesaid globally successful 2023.
Kenvue said successful a connection that J&J babe pulverization "did not incorporate asbestos, and does not origin cancer".
J&J is separately facing tens of thousands of lawsuits successful America, wherever claimants allege they were diagnosed with crab aft utilizing babe pulverization and different talc products.
Last week, J&J was ordered to wage $966m (£720m) to the household of a pistillate who died from mesothelioma, 1 of the largest awards against the firm, though the magnitude could beryllium reduced connected appeal.
Damages awarded by UK courts are mostly much restricted.
What is the ineligible assertion being made?
Talc is simply a people occurring mineral which is mined. But Michael Rawlinson KC, who is representing the claimants, said successful tribunal documents that "there beryllium precise few, if any, commercially exploited talc deposits successful the satellite which bash not incorporate asbestos".
He besides alleged that reports from specified mines, J&J's ain research, and existing technological lit would each person informed J&J astir asbestos contamination.
Despite this, Mr Rawlinson claimed the institution "suppressed accusation that mightiness bespeak that babe pulverization was contaminated with asbestos", "lobbied regulators" to alteration the continued merchantability of its product, and sponsored studies to "downplay the dangers" to quality health.
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Janet Fuschillo, 1 of the claimants, was diagnosed with ovarian crab 7 years ago.
The 75-year-old said she utilized J&J's babe pulverization since the 1960s: "I utilized talc connected myself and each 4 of my children due to the fact that we were told it was pure, and it was bully for you."
Patricia Angell said her hubby Edward died successful 2006, aged 64, a fewer weeks aft being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
"He would travel location from enactment and ablution each time and usage J&J's talc," she said.
"Talc was mentioned connected Edward's autopsy report, on with asbestos strains recovered successful contaminated talc."
Mesothelioma, a signifier of cancer, is astir ever caused by asbestos exposure, according to the NHS, and it commonly forms successful the lungs aft radical inhale the microscopic fibres.
Baby pulverization 'does not origin cancer'
A Kenvue spokesperson said: "We sympathise profoundly with radical surviving with cancer.
"We recognize that they and their families privation answers - that's wherefore the facts are truthful important.
"The information of Johnson's babe pulverization is backed by years of investigating by autarkic and starring laboratories, universities and wellness authorities successful the UK and astir the world.
"The high-quality cosmetic people talc that was utilized successful Johnson's babe pulverization was compliant with immoderate required regulatory standards, did not incorporate asbestos, and does not origin cancer."
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