New Jersey is set to receive over $30 million from a nationwide settlement with Johnson & Johnson (J&J) over allegations related to the marketing of its talc-based baby powder and body powder products. The settlement resolves claims from more than 40 states, including New Jersey, that J&J deceptively marketed its products as safe despite knowing about an increased risk of ovarian cancer for women who used the products on their genitals.
The pharmaceutical giant, based in New Brunswick, has agreed to pay the settlement in four annual installments of approximately $7.53 million each, beginning in July. The total settlement amount across all states is $700 million.
"The company blatantly promoted the products as safe and pure while possessing internal information about a carcinogen and while ignoring mounting external evidence about possible health effects," said New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin. "This is an egregious betrayal of consumer trust that never should have happened."
The lawsuit details that Johnson & Johnson was aware of the potential for asbestos in its products as far back as the 1950s. Despite this, the company continued to market and sell its products without any changes to its advertising or warning labels. The company even targeted African American and Latina women in its campaigns to reverse declining sales.
The settlement is not connected to the thousands of other talc-related lawsuits against J&J. Earlier this year, the company announced a reorganization plan to resolve more than 99% of active talc-related cases against the corporation, with a price tag of $6.475 billion to be paid over 25 years.