Table of contents
- Latest Baby Powder Mesothelioma Lawsuit Updates
- July 27, 2026: J&J Proposes $5.5 Billion Talc Settlement
- July 22, 2026: Court Orders Plaintiffs to Show Causation
- May 27, 2026: Oklahoma Jury Returns Defense Verdict
- November 28, 2025: FDA Withdraws Talc Testing Rule
- October 6, 2025: Los Angeles Jury Orders J&J to Pay $966 Million
- May 20, 2025: FDA Holds Expert Panel on Talc
- August 12, 2022: J&J Announces End of Talc Baby Powder Sales
- October 18, 2019: J&J Recalls About 33,000 Bottles
- December 14, 2018: Reuters Reports J&J Knew of Asbestos in Talc
- What Is Talc?
- Who May Be Affected?
- Reported Injuries or Damages
- Recall and Regulatory Background
- Evidence to Preserve
- Filing Deadlines
- Potential Compensation
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Did a Bankruptcy Court Approve a J&J Talc Settlement?
- Is Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Linked to Cancer?
- What Does the Research Say About Talc and Mesothelioma?
- How Long After Talc Exposure Can Mesothelioma Appear?
- Did Johnson & Johnson Recall Baby Powder?
Johnson’s Baby Powder is at the center of lawsuits over mesothelioma. Plaintiffs allege asbestos in its talc caused the cancer, which forms in the tissue surrounding organs such as the lungs and heart.
Johnson & Johnson denies the claims. Many mesothelioma suits are filed in state courts. A federal MDL in New Jersey covers ovarian cancer claims. J&J says it previously settled about 95% of filed mesothelioma suits.
In October 2025, a Los Angeles jury ordered J&J to pay $966 million to the family of Mae Moore, who died of mesothelioma. On July 27, 2026, J&J proposed a $5.5 billion settlement of the remaining ovarian claims.
Latest Baby Powder Mesothelioma Lawsuit Updates
July 27, 2026: J&J Proposes $5.5 Billion Talc Settlement
Johnson & Johnson announced a $5.5 billion proposal to resolve the remaining ovarian talc claims, Fortune reported, citing the Associated Press [1]. The proposal is conditioned on at least 95% of remaining claimants taking part.
The initial payment would be no more than $3 billion in 2027. The proposal covers ovarian claims in the federal MDL, not mesothelioma suits filed in state courts.
July 22, 2026: Court Orders Plaintiffs to Show Causation
The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey ordered plaintiffs in the talc MDL to show why the remaining pending claims should not be dismissed. The order concerns their inability to prove specific causation.
Fortune, citing the Associated Press, reported that a federal judge issued the order the week before July 29, 2026. The order came five days before J&J announced its $5.5 billion settlement proposal.
May 27, 2026: Oklahoma Jury Returns Defense Verdict
A state court jury in Oklahoma County returned a defense verdict for Johnson & Johnson in a mesothelioma talc trial on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, and awarded no damages. Law.com reported the result on May 29, 2026 [2].
November 28, 2025: FDA Withdraws Talc Testing Rule
The FDA announced the withdrawal of its proposed rule on testing methods for detecting and identifying asbestos in talc-containing cosmetic products [3].
The Federal Register had published the proposed rule on December 27, 2024. The withdrawal came about six months after the FDA’s May 2025 panel on talc.
October 6, 2025: Los Angeles Jury Orders J&J to Pay $966 Million
A Los Angeles jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $966 million to Mae Moore’s family. Moore died of mesothelioma in 2021. Fierce Pharma reported $16 million in compensatory and $950 million in punitive damages [4].
The jury found that J&J hid the risk of using its baby powder and that the concealment was a substantial factor in causing Moore’s mesothelioma. J&J said it will appeal.
May 20, 2025: FDA Holds Expert Panel on Talc
The FDA expert panel on talc brought in outside scientists [5]. The panel came after the FDA proposed its asbestos-testing rule for talc cosmetics in December 2024. It came before the rule’s withdrawal in November 2025.
August 12, 2022: J&J Announces End of Talc Baby Powder Sales
Johnson & Johnson announced the end of talc sales for its baby powder worldwide in 2023, replacing it with a cornstarch product. The announcement came on Friday, August 12, 2022 [6].
The announcement came two years after the company ended talc-based powder sales in the United States and Canada. The change affected the product at the center of the lawsuits.
October 18, 2019: J&J Recalls About 33,000 Bottles
Johnson & Johnson voluntarily recalled about 33,000 bottles of Johnson’s Baby Powder, one lot, ABC News reported [7]. The company announced the recall on Friday, October 18, 2019.
Asbestos traces were found in a single bottle bought from an online retailer. Stop using any bottle from the recalled lot.
December 14, 2018: Reuters Reports J&J Knew of Asbestos in Talc
A Reuters investigation reported that Johnson & Johnson knew for decades its talc sometimes tested positive for small quantities of asbestos, CBS News reported [8]. J&J denied the report.
J&J said thousands of independent tests by regulators and the world’s leading labs prove its baby powder has never contained asbestos.
What Is Talc?
According to the FDA, talc is a naturally occurring mineral, mined from the earth, composed of magnesium, silicon, oxygen, and hydrogen. The FDA says talc is an ingredient used in many cosmetic products, from baby powder to blush.
The Conversation notes that talc and asbestos are minerals often found close to each other in the Earth. Talc can be contaminated with asbestos during mining [9].
Who May Be Affected?
People who used cosmetic talcum powder for years and later developed mesothelioma may be affected. A 75-person case series described people whose only known asbestos exposure was cosmetic talc [10].
In that series, all had pathologically confirmed malignant mesothelioma. Mean exposure lasted 33 years. Mean latency from first exposure to diagnosis was 50 years.
Four of the 75 people, or 5%, worked as barbers or cosmetologists, or were family members who swept the barber shop.
Only an individual legal review can say whether a person qualifies. Talc claims for ovarian cancer are covered on our ovarian cancer talc claims page.
Reported Injuries or Damages
The injury alleged in these lawsuits is mesothelioma. J&J denies the allegation. In the Moore case, the jury assessed $6 million in non-economic damages for Moore’s illness and $10 million for her three relatives.
Moline, Bevilacqua, Alexandri and Gordon reported 33 cases of malignant mesothelioma in people with no known asbestos exposure other than cosmetic talcum powder [11].
The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine published the study in January 2020. Asbestos of the type found in talcum powder was found in all six cases evaluated.
Moline, Patel and Frank described 166 people with mesothelioma and substantial asbestos exposure to cosmetic talc products [12]. The Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology published the series in January 2023.
The Conversation also says talc use appears to carry a weak risk of some types of ovarian cancer. That finding concerns ovarian cancer, not mesothelioma.
Recall and Regulatory Background
The 2019 recall covered Lot #22318RB of Johnson’s Baby Powder. A recall does not by itself prove that a product caused any person’s illness or that a company is liable.
Evidence to Preserve
Keep these items safe, because they may help show how and when exposure to the powder happened:
- Product identifiers such as the bottle, any lot number and purchase receipts.
- Photographs of the containers, including labels and lot numbers.
- Medical and pathology records connected to the mesothelioma diagnosis.
- Records of when and how long the powder was used, and by whom.
- Work records for barber, salon or household exposure.
Do not throw away old bottles. Write down names of family members who used the powder or lived in the home.
Filing Deadlines
State law sets the time limits for these claims. The limit that applies depends on where you live and on when the exposure, illness and diagnosis happened.
Some states start counting at the date of diagnosis. A deadline that passes can end a claim, even one with strong facts. Talk with a lawyer soon.
Potential Compensation
A mesothelioma claim may include medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering. A wrongful death claim may include losses to surviving family members. Juries have reached different results in mesothelioma trials.
Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Any potential compensation depends on the facts of each case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did a Bankruptcy Court Approve a J&J Talc Settlement?
A bankruptcy court did not approve a J&J talc settlement. A U.S. bankruptcy court judge denied a $9 billion settlement proposed by a J&J subsidiary. J&J decided not to appeal the denial.
Is Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Linked to Cancer?
The Conversation links talc to cancer in a limited way and speaks of talc in general, not Johnson & Johnson powder. Talc contaminated with asbestos is clearly linked to a higher risk of lung cancer, but cosmetic talc use does not seem to raise that risk.
What Does the Research Say About Talc and Mesothelioma?
The research on talc and mesothelioma comes from case series. In the 166-case series, cosmetic talc was the only known asbestos exposure in 122 cases. The other 44 cases also had other exposures. The authors say cosmetic talc use is often overlooked as a source.
How Long After Talc Exposure Can Mesothelioma Appear?
Mesothelioma can appear decades after talc exposure. In the 75-person case series, the time between first exposure and diagnosis ranged from 14 to 72 years. A long gap between powder use and diagnosis is therefore possible.
Did Johnson & Johnson Recall Baby Powder?
Yes, Johnson & Johnson recalled one lot of its baby powder in 2019. The company called the amount of asbestos found sub-trace, no greater than 0.00002%. The recalled bottles carry Lot #22318RB.