Johnson & Johnson, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical giants, is facing increasing scrutiny over a series of major scandals, which include selling cancer-causing products, fueling the opioid crisis, and illegally marketing drugs.
A recent revelation has drawn attention to the company’s sunscreens. In 2021, testing discovered that 27% of Johnson & Johnson’s aerosol sunscreens—popular brands like Aveeno and Neutrogena—contained benzene, a carcinogenic chemical linked to blood cancers. Following this discovery, the company was forced to recall the contaminated products. But this is far from the only controversy plaguing the company.
Talcum Powder and Cancer Lawsuits
One of the most prominent legal battles for Johnson & Johnson involves its talcum powder products, which have been alleged to contain asbestos, a known carcinogen. Thousands of lawsuits across the US and Canada have accused the company’s Baby Powder of causing ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. In 2018, a Missouri jury awarded $4.7 billion to 22 women who claimed the product caused their illnesses. Despite halting sales in North America by 2020, J&J continued to sell talc-based powder in other regions. In 2023, the company proposed an $8.9 billion settlement to resolve ongoing legal disputes, although it continues to deny any wrongdoing.
Opioid Crisis Lawsuits
Johnson & Johnson’s role in the opioid epidemic has also been a major source of legal trouble. The company was accused of using deceptive marketing practices to fuel the opioid crisis in the US. In 2019, an Oklahoma court fined J&J $572 million for its part in the epidemic. By 2021, the company reached a $5 billion settlement to resolve opioid-related lawsuits nationwide before deciding to exit the opioid business entirely.
Risperdal Drug Marketing Scandal
The company’s troubles also extend to illegal drug marketing. Johnson & Johnson faced a significant scandal with its antipsychotic drug Risperdal, which was illegally marketed for unapproved uses, particularly in children and elderly dementia patients. In 2013, the company paid $2.2 billion in one of the largest healthcare fraud settlements in US history. Later, in 2019, a Philadelphia jury awarded $8 billion to a plaintiff who developed gynecomastia (breast growth in men) after taking Risperdal as a child.
