Scottish group sue Johnson & Johnson over talcum powder cancer claims
A group of Scottish women have launched legal action against Johnson & Johnson accusing the firm of selling them talcum powder contaminated with asbestos.
The women claim the pharmaceutical company knew about the dangers of contaminated talc for decades and that they, or family members, developed various types of cancers after using the products.
It is the first contaminated talc action to be raised in the Scottish courts, but thousands of people across the UK are taking part in similar action.
Lawyers at Lefevres, who are representing the Scottish group, called it an “international scandal”. Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has been approached for comment. The company has denied similar allegations as well as any claims it knowingly sold baby powder contaminated with asbestos.
Like other claims, Lefevres cites a memo from the 1960s about the use of tremolite in the use of talc products.Tremolite is a mineral which – when in its fibrous form – is classified as asbestos and linked to potentially deadly cancers.
Lefevres says, following scientific analysis of cosmetic talc products, the memo recommended minimising the use of tremolite until substantial evidence showed it had no adverse effects.
The lawyers said the memo noted the safety of talc for babies could no longer be guaranteed.
Helene Rose, from Aberdeen, is part of the group in Scotland taking action against J&J. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2024 after using talc for decades. The 67-year-old said: “I don’t have any other reason for having this disease. I’ve got no family history of cancer.
“Although I was adopted, I now know my extended birth family, and none of them have cancer.
“In addition, I do not have any of the genetic markers; I tested negative for those.”
Helene said she would expect J&J baby powder to “be safe and pure enough for babies”.
She added: “Companies should know that they can’t get away with doing this kind of thing and should be held accountable for ruining people’s lives.”
The sale of baby powder containing talc stopped in the UK in 2023. The UK action mirrors extensive litigation in the US, where multiple lawsuits have been filed and claimants – predominantly those with mesothelioma and ovarian cancer – have been awarded billions of dollars in damages.
J&J has successfully appealed in some cases.
Lawyers for the claimants estimate damages sought in the UK could extend to hundreds of millions of pounds and that the claim could become the largest product liability case in British history.
source www.bbc.co.uk