Talc lawsuits in the UK: Latest developments 

A major legal action has been filed in the UK against Johnson & Johnson, alleging the company knowingly sells baby powder contaminated with asbestos. The claim, brought by approximately 3,000 individuals through KP Law, also names Kenvue as a co-defendant in the action. Estimated damages are expected to reach hundreds of millions of pounds, making it one of the larges product liability cases in UK history.

While class actions of this scale is a relatively new development in the UK against Johnson & Johnson, they are far from uncommon in the US where they have faced extensive product liability litigation. Thousands of lawsuits have been filed and claimants, many of whom developed mesothelioma or ovarian cancer, have received billions of dollars in compensation. 

Johnson & Johnson at current denies the claim on the basis that their baby powder was compliant with the required regulatory standards and that it did not contain asbestos. According to the claimants, they hold internal memos that show Johnson & Johnson was aware its baby powder contained talc with trace amounts of asbestos. Instead of including warnings on the product packaging, the company allegedly focused on marketing and maximising sales, keeping the known fact of the product containing asbestos confidential. Baby powder containing talc stopped being sold in the UK in 2023. This claim marks a significant chapter in UK history with proceedings and investigations ongoing.