WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US consumer products giant Johnson & Johnson is exploring options to act after a jury awarded $72 million to the family of a diseased woman in the United States who claimed the company’s talcum powder she used caused ovarian cancer, company spokeswoman Carol Goodrich told Sputnik.
"The company is looking at its options," Goodrich stated on Wednesday when asked if the Johnson & Johnson planned to appeal the verdict.
Jackie Fox of the US state of Missouri died of ovarian cancer in 2015 at age 62. Her family told the media she had used Johnson & Johnson talcum powder for nearly 50 years.
Goodrich noted the company sympathizes with the family of the plaintiff, but strongly disagrees with the outcome of the court case.
"The recent US verdict goes against decades of sound science proving the safety of talc as a cosmetic ingredient in multiple products," she claimed.
The talc used in all of the company’s global products, Goodrich added, is carefully selected and meets the highest quality, purity and compliance standards.
Many studies in women have looked at the possible link between talcum powder and cancer of the ovary, according to a post on the American Cancer Society webpage. Findings have been mixed, with some studies reporting a slightly increased risk and some reporting no increase.
Talc is a naturally occurring mineral composed of magnesium, silicon, oxygen and hydrogen. It is used to absorb moisture in many kinds of cosmetic products, from baby powder to make up.
