Johnson & Johnson another corporate villain

[cyclonefence]

It's common knowledge now that the talc in Johnson&Johnson Baby Powder (and other body powders containing talc) contaminated with asbestos have been determined to be the cause of thousands of cases of ovarian cancer. J&J knew about this problem at least as early as 1971, when some of its scientists suggested changing the formula to harmless cornstarch--reminder of the tobacco industry's denial of the carcinogenic effects of nicotine? Now a New Yorker article (newyorker.com/magazine/2022/09/19/johnson-johnson-and-a-new-war-on-consumer-protection) (no paywall) reveals even more vile behavior by this beloved brand.

According to the NYer's research and interviews, not only did J&J refuse to change their deadly makeup of the baby powder after they learned it was causing ovarian cancer, they continued to refuse to do so when they learned it was probably also causing mesothelioma in some users.

Once J&J realized that their baby powder was being used by many women for themselves, they introduced Shower-to-Shower, the same formula with a different fragrance and packaging. They concentrated sales efforts in areas with high concentrations of women of color.

The vast, vast majority of the victims of J&J are women who used the powder to dry and deodorize their genital areas. Of all the suits against J&J cited in the article, not one was brought by a man.

And only after they'd lost a few lawsuits did J&J agree to change from talc to cornstarch in their baby powder. But instead of destroying the remaining stocks of the carcinogenic product, they shipped them overseas to be sold in developing countries.

Just as shocking as J&J's murderous behavior are the laws, particularly bankruptcy laws, which allow corporations such and J&J--and Koch Industries--to avoid having any real responsibility for their wrong-doing. You will not believe what these guys get away with--legally. Laws need to be changed.

I highly recommend this article. It made me wonder if all those babies--boys and girls--who had their bottoms powdered with every diaper change are suffering any consequences of asbestos exposure.

[womanofthehills]

1. Plus their super poppies for opioid pills

LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA — As the United States was succumbing to an epidemic of addiction, the Johnson & Johnson family of companies became the leading maker of narcotics for popular opioid pills, a dominance achieved through decades of innovation, navigation of U.S. drug policy, and the cultivation of poppies in this remote haven on the other side of the world.

Johnson & Johnson’s supply chain began in Tasmania, an island 150 miles south of mainland Australia, where scientists in the mid-1990s altered the genetics of thousands of plants to engineer a “super poppy” that was particularly rich in opiates

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/business/opioid-crisis-johnson-and-johnson-tasmania-poppy/

[Hermit-The-Prog]

2. If corporations are people (see our broken judiciary), then J&J deserves capital punishment.