In 2019 retailers like Walmart and CVS and Rite Aid, Paul Johnson's talc baby powder because the FDA had found asbestos in a container of the product. This was a part of a 33,000 bottle batch that Johnson Johnson voluntarily recalled after the FDA made its discovery. The company maintains talc based powder is safe, but says it's making a switch to cornstarch based powder next year to meet customer needs.
Thousands of people say Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder gave them cancer. They’re suing — but the consumer giant is using a bankruptcy strategy called the “Texas two-step” to limit its liability.
This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Paul Robert Mounsey, and hosted by Noel King.
Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained
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