You probably grew up with that smell. That clean, floral, slightly medicinal scent of Johnson & Johnson powder is etched into the collective memory of basically anyone born in the last century. It was the gold standard for diaper changes. Gym bags. Chafed thighs. It felt safe. But if you’ve walked down a drugstore aisle lately, things look different. The familiar white bottle is still there, but the ingredients inside have undergone a massive, multibillion-dollar transformation that changed the consumer landscape forever.
It's weird.
For decades, talc was the undisputed king of moisture absorption. Then, seemingly overnight, it became the center of one of the most complex legal and medical dramas in corporate history. Thousands of lawsuits, claims of asbestos contamination, and a pivot to cornstarch have left people wondering: Is Johnson & Johnson powder actually safe to use now? Honestly, the answer depends entirely on which bottle you’re holding and how much you trust the regulatory shifts of the last few years.
The Talc Trouble Nobody Saw Coming
Talc is a mineral. It’s soft—the softest mineral on the Mohs scale, actually. In its natural state, it is often found in the earth right next to asbestos. That’s the crux of the entire controversy. For years, plaintiffs in massive class-action lawsuits argued that Johnson & Johnson powder was occasionally contaminated with trace amounts of asbestos fibers, which, when inhaled or applied topically near sensitive areas, could lead to ovarian cancer or mesothelioma.
J&J has consistently denied these claims. They’ve fought them in court for years. They maintain their talc was always asbestos-free and that the science supporting a link to cancer is "flimsy" at best. Yet, the jury awards started hitting the hundreds of millions—and in one famous Missouri case, billions—of dollars.
Think about that for a second. A product meant for babies became a lightning rod for toxic tort litigation.
Internal documents surfaced during these trials, popularized by a massive Reuters investigation in 2018. These papers suggested that the company had concerns about trace asbestos as far back as the 1970s but didn't alert the public. J&J called these reports "one-sided, false, and inflammatory." But the damage to the brand's reputation was already underway. People stopped reaching for the shaker.
The Great Switch: From Talc to Cornstarch
By 2020, the company stopped selling talc-based Johnson & Johnson powder in the U.S. and Canada. They cited a "fundamental change" in consumer habits fueled by "misinformation." By 2023, they took it a step further and transitioned the entire global portfolio to cornstarch-based formulas.
If you buy a bottle today, it’s cornstarch.
✨ Don't miss: High Protein in a Blood Test: What Most People Get Wrong
Is cornstarch better? From a safety perspective regarding asbestos, yes. Cornstarch is a food-based product derived from maize. It doesn’t grow near asbestos. It has larger particles, which makes it slightly less likely to be inhaled deep into the lungs compared to the ultra-fine dust of talc. It’s also incredibly effective at soaking up sweat.
But it isn't a perfect substance. Cornstarch is organic. It can, in some cases, provide a food source for yeast (Candida) if applied to an active fungal rash. If you’ve got a yeast-based diaper rash, many pediatricians will tell you to stay far away from cornstarch because you’re essentially "feeding the fire."
Why the Legal Battle Still Isn't Over
You might think the switch to cornstarch ended the drama. Not even close.
J&J tried a legal maneuver often called the "Texas Two-Step." Basically, they created a subsidiary called LTL Management, dumped all the talc liabilities into it, and then had that subsidiary file for bankruptcy. The goal? To settle all current and future claims in one go rather than fighting thousands of individual battles.
The courts haven't been particularly fond of this move. Appeals have bounced back and forth. As of early 2024, the company was still proposing a massive $6.475 billion settlement to resolve nearly all of the ovarian cancer claims. It’s a chess match. On one side, you have victims who feel their lives were destroyed by a household staple. On the other, you have a corporate giant trying to protect its bottom line while insisting the product was never the problem.
It’s a mess.
Decoding the Label: What’s Actually in the Bottle?
If you pick up a bottle of Johnson & Johnson powder today, you’re going to see a much shorter list of ingredients than you might expect. Usually, it’s just:
- Zea Mays (Corn) Starch
- Tricalcium Phosphate (to keep it from clumping)
- Fragrance (that classic scent)
That’s it. No talc. No asbestos risk. No mineral dust.
🔗 Read more: How to take out IUD: What your doctor might not tell you about the process
The fragrance is still a point of contention for some. "Fragrance" is a catch-all term that can hide dozens of chemicals, including phthalates, though J&J has cleaned up their "safety brand" significantly over the last five years to meet modern "clean beauty" standards. They’ve removed dyes and parabens. They’re trying hard to win back the "millennial mom" demographic that fled to brands like Honest Company or Burt’s Bees during the height of the litigation.
The Nuance of Risk
We have to talk about "relative risk."
If you used talc-based Johnson & Johnson powder for forty years, should you panic? Most oncologists say no. The statistical increase in risk, even in the studies that show a link, is relatively small compared to things like genetics or smoking. But "small" doesn't mean "zero." The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently classified talc as "probably carcinogenic to humans" based on "limited evidence" in humans and "sufficient evidence" in experimental animals.
That "probably" is doing a lot of heavy lifting. It puts talc in the same category as red meat or working the night shift. It’s not a definitive "this will kill you," but it’s a "we should probably be careful with this."
Alternatives and How to Use Powder Safely
Maybe you're done with J&J. Maybe the brand name just leaves a bad taste in your mouth now. That's fair. The market has exploded with alternatives.
- Arrowroot Powder: Very similar to cornstarch but slightly more silky.
- Kaolin Clay: Great for heavy-duty moisture but can be a bit "gritty."
- Baking Soda Mixes: Good for odors, but can be irritating to sensitive skin because of the high pH.
If you do choose to keep using Johnson & Johnson powder (the new cornstarch version), there’s a right way to do it. Don't just shake it wildly into the air. That creates a cloud. You don't want to breathe in cornstarch anymore than you want to breathe in talc. Put the powder into your hand first, away from your face (or the baby's face), and then pat it onto the skin.
Navigating the Future of Body Powders
The era of talcum powder is effectively over. The lawsuits acted as a catalyst, but consumer sentiment was already shifting toward plant-based ingredients. J&J’s move to cornstarch was a survival tactic, but it’s also a reflection of where the entire cosmetic industry is headed.
We are moving away from mined minerals and toward renewable, agricultural ingredients.
💡 You might also like: How Much Sugar Are in Apples: What Most People Get Wrong
Is the new stuff as good? For most people, yeah. It keeps you dry. It smells like childhood. But the shadow of the talc era will probably hang over the brand for another decade as the legal system grinds through the remaining 50,000+ lawsuits.
Actionable Steps for Consumers
If you still have an old white bottle in the back of your linen closet, check the label. If it says "Talcum" or "Talc," it’s from the old era. Many experts recommend disposing of it rather than using it up, especially for perineal use.
When buying new, look for the "Cornstarch" label prominently displayed on the front. It’s usually in a green or light blue accent color.
Understand the "Dryness" Limit. Powder is not a cure-all. If you have a rash that is red, weeping, or has "satellite" bumps (little red dots away from the main rash), stop using powder entirely. That’s likely a fungal infection, and you need an antifungal cream, not a moisture absorber.
Limit Inhalation. Even "safe" powders are lung irritants. Use the "hand-to-skin" method. Never shake the bottle directly onto a baby’s diaper area while they are wiggling and breathing heavily.
Stay Informed on the Settlement. If you or a family member believe you were harmed by historical talc use, keep an eye on the LTL Management bankruptcy proceedings. The window for claims is a moving target, and legal counsel specializing in "Mass Torts" is usually the best route for specific advice on that front.
The world of Johnson & Johnson powder is a case study in how a "trusted" product can become a "controversial" one overnight. Whether you stick with the new formula or switch to a DIY alternative, the goal remains the same: staying dry without the side order of anxiety.