Are top brands risking public health? The case of Johnson Baby Powder and cancer
Business Desk: Johnson Baby Powder is a well-known name in the baby care products. Many of you must have consumed its talcum powder during your childhood days, and may now might be purchasing it for your kids. However, you might be quite surprised to learn that Johnson Baby Powder is being linked to cancer, and is facing lawsuits by cancer patients and their family members.
Recently, a group of individuals in the UK have filed a lawsuit against the Johnson & Johnson. They claim that its baby product Johnson Baby Powder, which is usually believed to be one of the most trusted and safe for babies, is actually contaminated with cancer causing substances. They also say that the company had known about it, yet had been adding it in their talcum baby powder product and putting peoples’ lives at risk.
According to a report from the BBC, the brand is being dragged to the court by as many as around 1900 individuals, comprising of active cancer patients, survivors, and family members. It is believed to be the one of the largest such action by a group of so many people on a pharmaceutical company in the United Kingdom.
Johnson & Johnson have also reportedly reacted to these allegations. It has disproved the accusations of concealing any information regarding the presence of cancer-causing ingredient in its talcum baby powder, and also refuted any link between Johnson Baby Powder and cancer.
The issue was first brought to light by a 44-year-old woman in the UK, who is under cancer treatment. At the beginning, she reportedly came across an online article about the link of talcum powder and cancer. The women stated that she regularly used to apply talcum powder on her body after shower, including her genitals. However, she was infuriated to know that a prominent pharmaceutical brand like Johnson & Johnson had known about the presence of this suspicious substance in its baby powder product, but had concealed it from customers.
Consumer safety should be at the heart of every business with no excuses. However, Johnson & Johnson is not the first brand to be scrutinized or face legal action for failing to prioritize the health and safety of its consumers. Several prominent brands and products like Maggi, Cadbury, Coca-Cola have also come under the public eye for various reasons in relation to compromising public health. Very recently, a household Indian masala brand MDH was probed for a possible presence of cancer-causing chemical in its products and was banned in several markets.
In this era of rampant consumerism and aggressive marketing where we are occasionally motivated to make impulsive buying, nothing can be regarded completely safe. From raw vegetables filled with pesticides, to health-drinks overloaded with sugar, packaged foods with trans fats, to even baby care products laced with cancerous substances; consumers face health risk at every purchase. Therefore, stricter regulations, transparent labelling, and increased consumer awareness and literacy are necessary for our safety and good health.
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