Johnson’s Baby Shampoo Contained Formaldehyde, Per Indian State Testing
An inspection by Indian regulators found that Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo contained “harmful ingredients,” which result in the company being banned from selling the product in the northern state of Rajasthan.
According to a bulletin (PDF) issued by the Government of Rajasthan last month, samples of Johnson’s Baby Shampoo were declared to not be of standard quality. Johnson & Johnson has confirmed that the findings are the result of formaldehyde identified in the tested samples, although the manufacturer has denied that there are any dangerous ingredients in the products.
Overexposure to formaldehyde can be harmful to humans with short term symptoms, known to cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and sinuses. Other acute exposures to formaldehyde have been known to cause burning, itching, dryness and redness of the eyes, nasal dryness, soreness, sore throat, wheezing, and shortness of breath, chest pains and even bronchitis.
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Talcum powder or talc powder may cause women to develop ovarian cancer.
Learn More About this Lawsuit See If You Qualify For CompensationThe long-term effects of formaldehyde exposure are less known, however research over the last few decades indicates that it is a cancer-causing agent.
In the early 1980’s, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was notified by scientists performing independent studies that linked the exposure of formaldehyde to nasal cancer in lab rats. After analyzing the studies the EPA had classified formaldehyde as a probable human carcinogen under prolonger or extended periods of exposure.
By 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) had classified formaldehyde as a human carcinogen, and the National Toxicology Program of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) named formaldehyde as a known and definite carcinogen to humans possible to cause cancer.
The report comes shortly after national Indian authorities investigated the company’s baby powder products to see if they contained asbestos. Johnson & Johnson said in February that the government told it investigators had seen no signs of asbestos in its products and continued sales in India.
It also comes as an increasing number of juries in the U.S. say that evidence shown in court establishes that Johnson’s Baby Powder and other talc-based products contributed to the development of mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. This has resulted in a number of verdicts in the tens of millions of dollars over the last year.
Just days after the Rajasthan report was issued, a California jury hit Johnson & Johnson with a $29 million verdict in favor of a woman who says she developed mesothelioma after using its Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower products for years.
Johnson & Johnson currently faces nearly 13,000 Johnson’s Baby Powder lawsuits and Shower-to-Shower lawsuits pending in courts nationwide, each involving similar allegations that the manufacturer has failed to warn consumers for decades about the cancer risks associated with their talc-based products, including claims brought on behalf of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer and mesothelioma following years of exposure to the widely used products.
While most of the cases are pending in the federal court system, a number of claims have been filed in state courts nationwide, where several prior juries have already returned large verdicts against the manufacturer, often including punitive damages that are designed to punish Johnson & Johnson for recklessly disregarding the safety of consumers when it withheld safety information and continued to promote use of the products among adult women for “feminine hygiene”.
Johnson & Johnson is pursuing appeals in each of the cases that resulted in a verdict, and is refusing to negotiate talcum powder settlements, some analysts have suggested that the verdicts are a sign that juries find Johnson & Johnson’s trial defense lacking in credibility.
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6 Comments
KhamNovember 23, 2021 at 11:09 am
I been using baby shampoo for long time I also use to wash my eyes. I didn’t realize that. I got shingles on my eyelids and my hair all rashes so painful
JohnnieJuly 12, 2021 at 11:52 pm
I have used Johnson's baby bath and shampoo for years, and never realized the reason my hair was falling out. I changed to a different shampoo because I thought my hair was dry and just needed a shampoo that had conditioners in it. I later switched back to Johnson's because I felt it would clean my scalp better. Now my hair is alway in my comb every time I comb my hair. I had no idea why until m[Show More]I have used Johnson's baby bath and shampoo for years, and never realized the reason my hair was falling out. I changed to a different shampoo because I thought my hair was dry and just needed a shampoo that had conditioners in it. I later switched back to Johnson's because I felt it would clean my scalp better. Now my hair is alway in my comb every time I comb my hair. I had no idea why until my husband found coments by others about their problem and their use of J&J shampoo. I can't believe they would continue to sell a product they knew to be unsafe and dangerous. I feel they should have to pay for the harm and stress they have caused many, many people.
MaryJuly 9, 2021 at 1:21 am
I have been having major hair loss, had 3 different blood test trying to find out why, Doctors said my blood test are normal!! well now I know why I’m losing all my hair!!!! .. I have been using Johnson & Johnson Shampoo!! I quit using it a few weeks ago because I bought shampoo for hair loss , my hair is still falling out!! I’m so pissed off! Praying it stops falling out since I’m not using it a[Show More]I have been having major hair loss, had 3 different blood test trying to find out why, Doctors said my blood test are normal!! well now I know why I’m losing all my hair!!!! .. I have been using Johnson & Johnson Shampoo!! I quit using it a few weeks ago because I bought shampoo for hair loss , my hair is still falling out!! I’m so pissed off! Praying it stops falling out since I’m not using it anymore.
CodyJuly 6, 2021 at 1:49 am
My mom used J&J shampoo and powder on me when I was a baby and due to that I have massive hair loss I was wondering why at the age of 10 I started losing my hair until I read an article about formaldehyde in J&J shampoo thank goodness I don’t have ovarian cancer due to the powder but I remember it burning my mom said she didn’t know why because I was the quietest baby never crying or anything exce[Show More]My mom used J&J shampoo and powder on me when I was a baby and due to that I have massive hair loss I was wondering why at the age of 10 I started losing my hair until I read an article about formaldehyde in J&J shampoo thank goodness I don’t have ovarian cancer due to the powder but I remember it burning my mom said she didn’t know why because I was the quietest baby never crying or anything except for the diaper change process I’m not looking for more thank 60 thousand dollars if I get more great but I don’t wanna have to live the next 60-80 years bald due to some shampoo manufacturer please consider me as a consultant
TanjinaApril 14, 2021 at 1:57 pm
When I had my daughter in 2003 I used the J&J shampoo and my daughter was losing hair so I had stopped using it. Right after I stopped using it her hair was growing back to normal.
DebraAugust 28, 2019 at 8:39 pm
When I had my baby in 2006 I used Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo. Well I had a very bad reaction when ever I touched my baby. I had bad blisters on my hands it felt like a burn . It hurt so much that I couldn't even use my hands to do anything. I mean I couldn't even unbutton my pants to use the restroom and my boyfriend had to help me with everything.I couldn't bond with my child the way a moth[Show More]When I had my baby in 2006 I used Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo. Well I had a very bad reaction when ever I touched my baby. I had bad blisters on my hands it felt like a burn . It hurt so much that I couldn't even use my hands to do anything. I mean I couldn't even unbutton my pants to use the restroom and my boyfriend had to help me with everything.I couldn't bond with my child the way a mother should. At first I thought it was the formula. So I changed formulas. It wasn't the formula. It was the shampoo. I went to the doctor and they gave me some cream. It didn't go away until I stopped using the shampoo . Still to this day before I touch any baby I ask do you use Johnson and Johnson shampoo? If they do I will not touch the baby. This experience was so painful.