(Des Moines, IA) -- Illinois will receive $29 million and Iowa will get more than $9 million out of a $700 million national settlement with Johnson & Johnson. Illinois and Iowa were among dozens of states claiming the company used deceptive marketing practices related to its talc-based baby powder and body powder products.
The lawsuit targeted the deceptive marketing of these products, but numerous other lawsuits raised allegations that talc causes serious health issues including mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. Following investigations launched by the states, J&J has agreed to permanently stop the creation and sale of these talc-based products within the U.S.
“Consumers rely on accurate information when making decisions about which products to purchase for their families,” Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said. “Any company – no matter how large – must be held accountable when laws protecting consumers are broken and their trust is violated. I will continue to work to ensure consumers are protected from false advertising, scams and dangerous products in the marketplace.”
“It is important that Iowans know the truth about the products they are using, especially when it concerns the health of their babies,” said Iowa Attorney General Bird. “This settlement holds Johnson & Johnson accountable for deceptive marketing and keeps dangerous, talc-based baby powder products off the shelves.”
The settlement requires J&J to stop the manufacture, marketing, promotion, distribution and sale of all baby and body powder products that contain talc. That includes Johnson’s Baby Powder and Johnson & Johnson’s Shower to Shower.
Texas, Florida, and North Carolina led the legal action. They were joined by Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Iowa, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, 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.