Talc (talcum powder) — the cosmetic-grade talc used in body and baby powders, which plaintiffs allege was contaminated with asbestos · Johnson & Johnson (and its talc subsidiary, including the entity later restructured as Red River Talc LLC) · updated June 2026
Tens of thousands of plaintiffs allege that long-term use of Johnson & Johnson's talc-based powders, such as Johnson's Baby Powder, caused ovarian cancer or mesothelioma because the talc was allegedly contaminated with asbestos. These remain unproven allegations. As of mid-2026, the consolidated federal cases are pending in MDL 2738 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, where the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation's report listed 68,029 actions pending as of June 1, 2026.
This page is general information about ongoing litigation and FDA safety actions — not medical or legal advice, and not a statement that Johnson's Baby Powder (Talcum Powder) caused any injury. Allegations described here are claims that have not been proven in court. Always consult a licensed professional.
Plaintiffs allege that Johnson & Johnson's talc-based powders, including Johnson's Baby Powder and Shower to Shower, were contaminated with asbestos and that decades of regular use caused them to develop ovarian cancer or mesothelioma. They further allege that the company knew of asbestos-contamination and cancer concerns for years, failed to adequately test or purify its talc, and did not warn consumers of the alleged risks. These are unproven allegations; courts have reached mixed outcomes, Johnson & Johnson denies that its talc products contain asbestos or cause cancer, and a causal link has not been established as a matter of settled science or law. This page is informational only and is not legal advice.
The FDA has not required a warning label or boxed warning on talc cosmetic products and has not issued a mandatory recall. The most concrete FDA-related action came on October 18, 2019, when, after FDA testing of a bottle found sub-trace chrysotile asbestos (no greater than 0.00002%), Johnson & Johnson voluntarily recalled a single lot of Johnson's Baby Powder (Lot #22318RB, about 33,000 bottles) and the FDA issued a related consumer safety alert / constituent update; that recall was later terminated. Separately, under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA, section 3505), the FDA published a proposed rule on December 27, 2024 (89 FR 105490) to require standardized asbestos testing (PLM and TEM methods) for talc-containing cosmetics, but the FDA withdrew that proposed rule on November 28, 2025, stating it intends to reexamine and reissue it; MoCRA's underlying mandate to establish testing methods remains.
The federal cases are consolidated in MDL No. 2738, In re: Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Products Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation's June 1, 2026 report listed 68,029 actions pending in the MDL. Timeline and status as of mid-2026: Johnson & Johnson made three attempts to resolve the talc claims through Chapter 11 bankruptcy (using subsidiaries including LTL Management and, most recently, Red River Talc LLC), all of which failed — the Red River Talc plan was rejected in early 2025, after which the company said it would return to the tort system to litigate the claims. Bellwether and state-court trials have resumed, with large but contested verdicts reported, and court-ordered mediation over a potential settlement was ongoing; no global settlement had been finalized as of mid-2026.