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Thousands of people are taking legal action against pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson, claiming it knowingly sold asbestos-contaminated talcum powder in the UK.

As many as 3,000 people have alleged that either they or a family member developed forms of ovarian cancer or mesothelioma from using Johnson’s Baby Powder, and are seeking damages at the high court in London.

Lawyers for the group said in court documents filed on Thursday that Johnson & Johnson, along with current and former subsidiaries Johnson & Johnson Management and Kenvue UK, should all be held liable.

They said J&J “concealed” the risk to the public for decades, having replaced talc with corn starch in its baby powder in the UK since 2023.

A spokesperson for Kenvue, which was formerly J&J’s consumer health division and now has responsibility for talc-related claims outside the US and Canada, said the talc used in baby powder complied with regulations, did not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer.

Talc is a naturally occurring mineral that is mined from the ground.

Michael Rawlinson KC, for the group of people bringing the claim, said in court documents that “there exist very few, if any, commercially exploited talc deposits in the world which do not contain asbestos and that all of the mines supplying the defendants contained asbestos”.

He also said that reports from such mines, as well as its own research alongside existing scientific literature, would have informed J&J about asbestos contamination.

Despite this, the company “suppressed information that might indicate that baby powder was contaminated with asbestos”, the barrister added.

He also said J&J “lobbied regulators” to enable the continued sale of its product and sponsored studies in an effort to “downplay the dangers” to human health.

J&J therefore “acted in bad faith, to protect the reputation and profit-making potential of baby powder and the goodwill attached to their name”, Rawlinson said.

J&J denies the allegations, including any claims it knowingly sold baby powder contaminated with asbestos.

Janet Fuschillo, who is one of the people bringing the case, said she used J&J’s baby powder since the 1960s, and that she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer seven years ago.

The 75-year-old said: “I used talc on myself and all four of my children … I used talc when I changed nappies, after baths, all the time, for close to 50 years.

“It’s a source of great concern and anger that I used talc on my children.”

Patricia Angell said her husband, Edward, died in 2006 aged 64, a few weeks after being diagnosed with mesothelioma.

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She described him as a “perfectly fit, healthy man” who worked as an electrician and who knew about asbestos.

She said: “When he fell ill the doctors asked him if he ever came into contact with asbestos and he told them he never had.

“He would come home from work and shower every day and use J&J’s talc … Talc was mentioned on Edward’s autopsy report, along with asbestos strains found in contaminated talc.”

She added that her husband had been “robbed” of 19 years of life and her children robbed of a father.

Mesothelioma, a form of cancer, is almost always caused by asbestos exposure, according to the NHS, and it commonly forms in the lungs after people inhale the microscopic fibres.

Rawlinson said the method of application of the baby powder – squeezing or shaking the bottle – meant that “clouds” of powder hung in the air “for a very long time after use” and were inhaled by the person using it.

A Kenvue spokesperson said: “We sympathise deeply with people living with cancer. We understand that they and their families want answers – that’s why the facts are so important.

“The safety of Johnson’s Baby Powder is backed by years of testing by independent and leading laboratories, universities and health authorities in the UK and around the world.

“The high-quality cosmetic grade talc that was used in Johnson’s Baby Powder was compliant with any required regulatory standards, did not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer.”

Porsche is supporting this ambitious project as part of its new ‘Start-up Your Dream’ initiative, which supports fledgling companies worldwide with outstanding innovations specifically intended to improve living and working conditions in the Global South. ‘Start-up Your Dream’ is also aimed at founders who create opportunities for others through innovations relating to climate change, integration and education.

Atera Water is the first company supported by Porsche as part of its initiative. The start-up was founded in 2021 with technology co-development with Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The founders Tai Kee and Dr Adrian Yeo aim to transform access to clean water through the development of advanced water treatment technologies that are both sustainable and economically viable. Their filtration system will be used in areas where water is scarce or where drinking water is exposed to severe environmental pollution. The first step is to deploy the technology in South East Asia, where water scarcity and pollution demand sustainable solutions.

“For more than seven decades, Porsche has been fulfilling the dreams of its customers with its sports cars worldwide. We have always taken care to be a responsible partner to society – this includes helping people make their dreams become reality in various ways,” says Dr Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board at Porsche AG. “With ‘Start-up Your Dream’, we are aiming to increase the market opportunities of newer companies who want to use their innovations to improve people’s lives. We want to strengthen their pioneering spirit and connect them with experts who will support them in building their company in this particularly challenging phase.”

To kick off the ‘Start-up Your Dream’ programme, Atera Water founders Tai Kee and Dr Adrian Yeo visited Porsche’s headquarters in Zuffenhausen. Their schedule included an opportunity to present their business model to members of the Executive Board. The sports car manufacturer’s Sustainability Council also had an in-depth discussion with the founders. Further talks with experts and guided tours of the Porsche production site and the Porsche Museum provided comprehensive insights into the company and its corporate culture.

In the course of the programme, Tai Kee and Dr Adrian Yeo participate in a wide range of training modules to further strengthen their company’s development. Among other things, they benefit from mentoring and targeted relationship-building within relevant networks. In addition, the founders participate in a training programme for entrepreneurs at the University of Cambridge and an intensive training week in Singapore. Financial support will also be provided at the end of the training, based on the results of the programme.

With Plug and Play, the initiative has gained an experienced and internationally operating partner. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, with an office in Stuttgart, the company is one of the biggest venture capital fund and accelerators in the world. Plug and Play is specialized in providing tailored support to young and innovative companies in the tech sector, connecting them and providing new opportunities with its own network.

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About Atera Water

Atera Water is developing water filtration technology designed to make clean drinking water available even in regions where water is scarce or polluted – with minimal use of chemicals. The start-up combines scientific excellence with practical use and sees itself as a partner to help solve global water problems. Atera Water combines innovation from membrane research with applied engineering to bring a cost effective and energy efficient filtration system to market maturity. Initial pilot deployments have shown promising results.

Porsche: ‘Start-up Your Dream’

With ‘Start-up Your Dream”, Porsche is implementing a flagship project to provide support for start-ups. The initiative aims to reach as many people as possible in important social areas. The funding is based on the four pillars of education, networking, mentoring and financing and is individually tailored to the needs of the courageous and creative founders.

Porsche: Partner to Society

‘Partner to Society’ is a strategy field in sustainability at Porsche. With various initiatives, donations and CSR activities, the sports car manufacturer aims to assist regions around the world in preserving the environment, guaranteeing good working and living conditions and strengthening social cohesion. Under the motto ‘Creating Chances’, Porsche is particularly committed to self-help projects designed to empower people in their living and working environment – and to help make their very personal dreams come true.

About Plug and Play

Plug and Play is the leading innovation platform, connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, they’re in 60+ locations across five continents. They offer corporate innovation programs and help their corporate partners in every stage of their innovation journey, from education to execution. They also organize startup acceleration programs and have built an in-house venture capital fund to drive innovation across multiple industries where they have invested in hundreds of successful companies, including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, N26, PayPal, and Rappi.