Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has announced it will stop selling talc-based baby powder globally in 2023, two years after it was halted in the US and Canada. Instead, the company will transition fully to cornstarch-based powder.
J&J is facing approximately 38k lawsuits, with many alleging that talc products have caused individuals to develop cancer.
While welcome, this long overdue decision isn't an attempt to do the right thing, but rather an effort to protect the company's reputation and get rid of a product that is no longer selling. J&J's delayed response, reluctance to admit the dangers of its product, and its "bad faith" bankruptcy reveal the profit-oriented company's priorities.
This isn't an admission of guilt or response to safety concerns, this is a business decision. Decades of independent scientific analysis have confirmed the safety of J&J's talc-based powder, but corn starch is cheaper, easier to obtain and the product is already sold around the world. This is a no-brainer solution for J&J to optimize its global portfolio and better meet its customers needs.