Baby Care Reviewed Jul 5, 2026

Johnson's Baby Powder (Talc)

The talc powder at the center of tens of thousands of asbestos cancer lawsuits.

Lawsuit · 2020

Talc–asbestos ovarian-cancer & mesothelioma litigation

Tens of thousands of claimants allege asbestos-contaminated talc caused cancer; a $1.5B jury verdict landed in Dec 2025. Ongoing.

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Settlement · 2025

Rejected bankruptcy settlement

A Texas court rejected J&J's ~$8–10B subsidiary-bankruptcy plan in March 2025 — its third failed attempt. Ongoing.

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Safety Finding · 2020 · resolved

North American withdrawal, then global discontinuation

J&J stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the US and Canada in 2020 and globally in 2023, switching to cornstarch.

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Our take

Why It’s on Our Radar

We don't recommend the talc powder. Talc can be contaminated with asbestos, the litigation is enormous and ongoing, and the product was withdrawn — cornstarch powders do the same job without the risk.

What's inside

Ingredients & Safety

The historical formula is talc plus fragrance. Talc and asbestos form together in the earth, so talc can carry asbestos unless every batch is purity-tested.

Worth a closer look — 2 ingredients we flag:

Talc — sometimes listed as Talcum Powder

A mineral powder with a history of asbestos contamination plus inhalation and ovarian-cancer concerns, so it is best avoided in baby products.

Fragrance — sometimes listed as Parfum

Undisclosed scent blend that is a common allergen and irritant; choose fragrance-free for sensitive or reactive skin.

Ingredient List Reviewed

Safe Watch Caution
  • Talc also listed as Talcum Powder, Cosmetic Talc Caution
  • Fragrance also listed as Parfum, Perfume Watch

Formula scope: the disclosed ingredient list captured for this review. Formulas can differ by product, scent, country, and date; compare the current package with this list before deciding.

Want another top-tier option? Motherlove Herbal Company in Baby & Kids Care currently meets our top criteria. Review its formula scope and cited records before deciding.

Who owns it

Ownership & Independence

The Johnson's baby brand is now marketed under Kenvue; the talc litigation liability is retained by Johnson & Johnson via subsidiaries (LTL Management → Red River Talc).

Where to buy

Key Products

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