MADISON, Wis. (WSAW) – Attorney General Josh Kaul, along with attorneys general from 42 other states, has secured a $700 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson. This agreement resolves allegations regarding the marketing of the company’s talc-based baby powder and body powder products.
“Protecting consumers from deceptive marketing is a priority for the Wisconsin DOJ, especially when safety is at risk,” said AG Kaul. “This settlement holds Johnson & Johnson accountable and aims to safeguard public health.”
Wisconsin will receive $15,842,132.98 as part of the settlement.
The agreement addresses claims that Johnson & Johnson misled consumers about the safety and purity of its talc products. As a result, the company has agreed to cease the manufacture and sale of its talc-based baby and body powders in the United States.
Johnson & Johnson has sold these products for over a century. The company halted U.S. sales following the states’ investigation and recently ended global sales. While the focus was on deceptive marketing, numerous class action lawsuits have alleged that talc causes serious health issues, such as mesothelioma and ovarian cancer.
Under the settlement, Johnson & Johnson will:
- Cease manufacturing, marketing, promoting, selling, and distributing talc-based baby and body powders, including Johnson’s Baby Powder and Johnson & Johnson’s Shower to Shower, in the United States.
- Permanently stop manufacturing these products in the U.S., either directly or through third parties.
- Permanently stop marketing and promoting these products in the U.S., either directly or through third parties.
- Permanently stop selling and distributing these products in the U.S., either directly or through third parties.
In addition to Wisconsin, the states involved in this agreement include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.
