Johnson & Johnson Faces Criminal Investigation Over Talc Safety Disclosures

Johnson & Johnson may have lied about the possibility that talc products could be contaminated with asbestos

Sunday, July 20, 2025 - Johnson & Johnson is now being looked into by the police for how it used to handled safety warnings about talcum powder products. Federal prosecutors are looking into whether the business purposefully hid or misrepresented information regarding possible asbestos contamination in its talc-based consumer goods. This investigation is a big step up from the years of legal and regulatory scrutiny that have been going on around talc goods, especially baby powder. Internal documents and emails found during civil litigation reveal that corporate officials may have known about the potential of trace asbestos in their talc but didn't tell the public or regulatory bodies in a timely manner. Thousands of cases have already been filed against J&J talc products, claiming that using them for a long time led to diagnoses of mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. A lawyer for talcum powder cancer victims said that the criminal case could help victims in other legal cases since it makes the case stronger that safety information was intentionally kept from them. Legal experts warn that the ruling could change what companies are responsible for when new public health hazards arise.

The U.S. Department of Justice says that the criminal inquiry is focused on whether Johnson & Johnson broke federal regulations that say firms must tell people about serious health risks that come with their products. This includes whether or not firm leaders lied to regulators or left out important safety information from public filings and product documentation. Investigators are looking at scientific test results from as far back as the 1980s, when independent labs found asbestos fibers in talc samples. Even while J&J has always said it didn't do anything wrong and that its talc is safe, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory bodies have recalled products in the past after finding asbestos in them. If misconduct is found, the current criminal investigation will probably look into both corporate and individual culpability. Possible charges could include fraud or conspiracy. At the same time, people are losing faith in talc products and are choosing alternatives that don't include talc. People who care about consumer safety argue that the criminal investigation could make the whole cosmetics and personal care sector more open about what they do.

The results of the criminal inquiry could have far-reaching effects on Johnson & Johnson and other companies that make talc-based goods in the future. If charges are brought, it might create a strong example for holding people accountable for crimes that include public health disclosures. Talcum powder cancer lawyers would probably use these kinds of events to back up similar civil claims, which would put further pressure on businesses to settle or change their legal defenses. Regulatory agencies may also be pushed to rethink how they check and report product safety data.