LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas is set to receive $12,716,700.92 as its share of a nationwide $700 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson over its marketing of talc-based baby powder and body powder products.
Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement:
“This settlement arose from allegations that Johnson & Johnson deceptively promoted and misled consumers about the safety and purity of its talc-based powder products that had been sold by the company for over a hundred years.
Johnson & Johnson has agreed to stop the manufacture and sale of talc-based baby powder and body powder products in the United States. I thank my office’s Consumer Protection Division for their diligence and effort as part of the coalition of 42 states that came together to hold the company accountable.”
The consent judgment is pending judicial approval, however, under it, Johnson & Johnson:
- Has ceased and not resumed the manufacturing, marketing, promotion, sale, and distribution of all baby and body powder products and cosmetic powder products that contain talcum powder, including, but not limited to, Johnson’s Baby Powder and Johnson & Johnson’s Shower to Shower in the United States.
- Shall permanently stop the manufacture of any covered products in the United States either directly or indirectly through any third party.
- Shall permanently stop the marketing and promotion of any covered products in the United States either directly or indirectly through any third party.
- Shall permanently stop the sale or distribution of any covered products in the United States either directly or indirectly through any third party.
The multistate settlement was led by Texas, Florida, and North Carolina, along with Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
To read the full complaint, click here. To read the consent judgment, click here.
