Discover how Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a coalition of 43 attorneys general secured a landmark settlement with Johnson & Johnson over misleading talcum powder promotions, reinforcing consumer protection and corporate accountability.
March 21, 2025
Discover how Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a coalition of 43 attorneys general secured a landmark settlement with Johnson & Johnson over misleading talcum powder promotions, reinforcing consumer protection and corporate accountability.
In collaboration with a bipartisan group of 43 attorneys general, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has announced a significant nationwide settlement with Johnson & Johnson (J&J).
This settlement addresses allegations that the company deceptively promoted and misled consumers regarding the safety and purity of its talcum powder products, including baby powder and body powder.
"Consumers rely on accurate information when making decisions about which products to purchase for their families," Attorney General Raoul emphasized. "Any company – no matter how large – must be held accountable when laws protecting consumers are broken and their trust is violated.
I will continue to work to ensure consumers are protected from false advertising, scams, and dangerous products in the marketplace." 1
Following Raoul and the coalition of attorneys general's commencement of the investigation, Johnson & Johnson ceased the distribution and sale of its baby powder and body powder products containing talc in the United States and recently discontinued global sales of these affected products.
Under the terms of the consent judgment, Johnson & Johnson has agreed to cease and not resume the manufacturing, marketing, promotion, sale, and distribution of all baby and body powder products and cosmetic powder products containing talcum powder. This includes but is not limited to, Johnson's Baby Powder and Shower to Shower products in the U.S.
As part of the settlement, Illinois is set to receive approximately $29 million, pending court approval. This is part of the larger $700 million settlement fund designed to address Johnson & Johnson's deceptive marketing practices.
The lawsuit filed by Attorney General Raoul and the coalition specifically targeted the deceptive marketing practices of Johnson & Johnson. However, numerous other pending lawsuits filed by private plaintiffs in class action suits allege that talc causes serious health issues, including mesothelioma and ovarian cancer.
The Illinois lawsuit claimed that Johnson & Johnson was aware that its talc products were "sometimes tainted with carcinogenic asbestos" and that women who used talc-based powders in the genital area had an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Despite this knowledge, J&J continued to market these products as safe, pure, and gentle, suitable for use in and on female genitals.2
The settlement described above was led by the attorney generals of Texas, Florida, and North Carolina, who worked in tandem with Raoul and other attorney generals across the country. In total, 42 states and the District of Columbia joined the settlement. The vast amount of state involvement in this lawsuit underscores the magnitude of the situation.
At a minimum, this lawsuit should serve as a warning to other corporations that are trying or are contemplating putting products on the marketplace that they know will harm people. If a company knows a product could hurt people, consumers should – at the very least – be adequately informed of the risks associated with the product as opposed to being told the product is safe and gentle.
This settlement marks a significant victory for consumer protection, holding a major corporation accountable for misleading marketing practices. Attorney General Raoul's commitment to safeguarding consumers ensures that companies are transparent and honest about the safety of their products, fostering a marketplace where trust and integrity prevail.
.avif)
.avif)
Please contact our friendly lawyers to Schedule a Consultation.
See below for our other locations. If our office locations are not convenient for you, we are happy to speak with you by phone.
The purpose of a consultation is to determine whether our firm is a good fit for your legal needs. Although we often discuss expected results and costs, our attorneys do not give legal advice unless and until you choose to retain us. Consultations may carry a charge, depending on the facts of the matter and the area of law. The cost of your consultation, if any, is communicated to you by our intake team or the attorney.
I am personally committed to ensuring that each one of our clients receives the highest level of client service from our team. Our mission is to provide excellent legal work in a cost-effective manner while maintaining open lines of communication between our clients and their attorneys. Many of our clients are going through difficult times in their lives when they reach out to us. They should feel comfortable leaning on the experience and knowledge of our attorneys as their counselors and advocates. We are here to help!
.jpg)
.avif){kind=avatar}