India has seized samples of Johnson & Johnson baby powder from its manufacturing plants in Himachal Pradesh. Also hundred drug inspectors have assigned to examine different manufacturing facilities, wholesalers and distributors linked to J&J India.
A report came out last week stating J&J’s raw talc and finished powders sometimes tested positive for small amounts of (cancer-causing) asbestos.
J&J’s company memos, internal reports and other confidential documents revealed that between 1974 and 2000 raw talc and finished powders sometimes tested positive for small amounts of asbestos.
The company said the allegations are one-sided, false and inflammatory.
The World Health Organization says exposure to asbestos does not develop cancer, but small amounts of exposure can trigger the disease years later.
Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) market value has dipped since the report came out. J&J planned to buy back up to US$ 5 billion of its stock, after it wiped out about US$ 40 billion from its market value.