Did you know, about 81.7 million adults used baby powder in 2020? That’s a fairly huge number considering the risk of getting cancer from talc! But, did they even know, they can get cancer if they kept on using talc?
⚖️ A White, Smooth, & Gentle Justice
🤯 But, cancer from baby powder? Seriously? How’s it even possible!
A compound called asbestos can cause cancer in humans when you inhale it. Mostly, it’s found in the mines of talcum.
💄 But, then how did it reach the cosmetics industry?
Well, for decades, the pharmaceutical giant, Johnson & Johnson hid a secret ingredient about their smooth & soft baby powder! It was the presence of asbestos in their talc powder that they were aware of since the 1970s.
But, neither did they come forward nor did they try to change the outcome!
🕵️ So, what exactly happened and how did everyone come to know about it?
Darlene Coker, who was diagnosed with cancer, knew she was dying. But, her concern was, how did she get mesothelioma which afflicted mostly men who inhaled asbestos dust in mines and industries such as shipbuilding that used the carcinogen!
So, she contacted a lawyer who knew what asbestos does to the human body, and they sued the pharmaceutical giant, Johnson & Johnson for its poisonous talc to get to know the truth.
Johnson & Johnson being the pharmaceutical giant denied the claim and said their products are asbestos-free! This was back in 1999, and nobody questioned the company further.
😶🌫️ So, does this mean the company is innocent of the allegations?
Well, nearly two decades later, in 2017 about 11,000 plaintiffs came together to fight the company for its poisonous talc. Thousands of them were diagnosed with ovarian cancer!
This sparked a huge criminal investigation against the pharmaceutical giant, the valuation of the lawsuit was about $4.4 billion dollars!
Sticking to their original claim, Johnson & Johnson kept on denying the presence of asbestos in their products until in 2017 documents unsealed in 2017 revealed J&J company executives were aware of asbestos liabilities as early as the 1970s.
Company reports highlighted the need to suppress concerns over asbestos contamination at talc mines in Vermont and Italy. And despite some J&J staff considering a switch of baby powder’s main ingredient from talc to corn starch to avoid liability, the company never stopped selling talcum powder.
⚖️ Now juries are holding Johnson & Johnson accountable for cancer caused by asbestos in its products.
Finally, some good news for the plaintiffs
A Missouri appeals court on Tuesday upheld a verdict that Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder caused ovarian cancer and ordered the company to pay $2.1 billion in damages.
The company even stated that it will stop the sale of talcum powder in the USA & Canada!
But what about the rest of the world?
What do you think, is it safe to use baby powder by J&J? Comment below with your thoughts 💭
Sliced Bagel Tax – Crazy Tax Story
Another Crazy Tax on Food? 😔
Well, if you like your bagel sliced, creamy and crispy make sure to pay more for it! The city of dreams, i.e. New York City places a special tax on prepared food! So be ready to pay more for those bagels you love!
💭 Byte of The Day
Be proud to pay taxes!
