American health products company Johnson & Johnson announced on the 19th (local time) that talc-based baby powder products will be discontinued in the United States and Canada.

According to Reuters, Johnson & Johnson said in a statement that it would cut sales of the baby powder product in North America over several months and eventually stop selling it altogether.

However, they added that retailers would sell their current inventory.

"The demand for baby powder has been decreasing in North America due to changes in consumer habits, misinformation surrounding product safety, and subsequent litigation advertising," explained the statement.
Baby powder accounts for about 0.5% of Johnson & Johnson's health business sales in the United States.

However, Johnson & Johnson said that baby powder based on corn starch will continue to be sold in North America.

It added that all products made from talc and corn starch will be sold outside North America.

Johnson & Johnson has been sued on more than 16,000 cases from consumers who claim that talc-based products, including baby powder, cause cancer. Most of the lawsuits are currently pending in the New Jersey District Court.

Plaintiffs allege that Johnson & Johnson's talc-based products are contaminated with asbestos, a primary carcinogen.

However, Johnson & Johnson said its talc material products are safe and, as a result, in December last year, inspections did not detect asbestos.

At the time, the results of the inspection were made shortly after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found traces of asbestos in some products. According to FDA test results, Johnson & Johnson voluntarily recalled some production line products last October.

Talc, the softest stone in the earth, is widely used as a material for baby powder, but it is often distributed near asbestos, so there have been constant concerns about asbestos contamination.