Johnson & Johnson Sued Over Sale of Baby Powder in Kenya

A human rights group has sued the American company Johnson & Johnson over the sale of talc-based baby powder in Kenya. 

The African Centre for Corrective & Preventive Action claims that, although the product is prohibited in some countries like the European Union and India, it is still being offered in Kenya. The group in its suit intended on defending consumer rights, asserts that Johnson & Johnson Services Inc uses benzene and talc in their baby powder items.

In its petition to the High Court in Milimani Nairobi, the group wants the court to pronounce the lawsuit a class-action, enabling other people to become part of the court proceedings. They are seeking temporary orders to prevent Johnson & Johnson from making, selling, importing, and distributing the Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder in Kenya.

“There is sufficient evidence that Johnson & Johnson Services Inc and Johnson & Johnson (K) Ltd are aware of the severe and fatal results of their products. But they have ignored the fact and still continue manufacturing and selling these products to the masses including Kenyan citizens despite having compensated claimants in the United States of America by the Johnson & Johnson Services Inc,” reads the lawsuit. 

The lobby group, directed by the executive director James Mwangi Macharia, asserts that due to its hazardous toxicity and potential adverse impact on the environment, benzene should not be used in the production of drugs. To support their claim, the group has included the findings of the FDA tests which displayed Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder as having asbestos. Macharia claims that benzene is a well-established cause of cancer to humans.