Johnson & Johnson to end selling talc-based baby powder

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has said it is planning to stop selling talc-based baby powder globally in 2023 amid thousands of lawsuits against it over the allegation that the talc products caused cancer.

Allegations had forced J&J completely withdrew from the US and Canada two years ago.

The lawsuits alleged that J&J's talc products, including the instantly recognisable brand of Johnson's baby powder, caused to develop cancer.

The company in a statement said that "As part of a worldwide portfolio assessment, we have made the commercial decision to transition to an all cornstarch-based baby powder portfolio,"

"As a result of this transition, talc-based Johnson's baby powder will be discontinued globally in 2023," it said. The allegations against the company also said that the talc products were contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen.

The company, however, denied the allegation saying that it has been scientifically proven that its talc is safe and asbestos-free.

"Our position on the safety of our cosmetic talc remains unchanged," the company said. "We stand firmly behind decades of independent scientific analysis by medical experts around the world that confirm that talc-based Johnson's baby powder is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer," the company said.