Facts about Talc

滑石訴訟

-是關於什麼?

You may have heard about juries awarding large verdicts in lawsuits in North America alleging that talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder can cause ovarian cancer or mesothelioma and that, in relation to this, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, LTL Management LLC (LTL), voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

But you may not know this: in the majority of U.S. jury trials, including six out of eight trials that happened in 2021, juries have concluded that Johnson & Johnson’s product was not responsible for the plaintiffs’ cancer. In other instances, judges have dismissed cases outright based on their own review of the facts, and many of the verdicts against Johnson & Johnson that have been through the appellate process have also been overturned.

Despite the evidence presented in court, and the fact that Johnson & Johnson discontinued the sale of Johnson’s Baby Powder in the United States and Canada in 2020, there continue to be more lawsuits filed in North America and a few extraordinary verdicts in U.S. state courts that have contradicted the science. That’s why Johnson & Johnson began a process in 2021年10月 to resolve these lawsuits in a way that would be reasonable for all involved, including anyone who may have legal claims in North America against Johnson & Johnson currently or in the future. To achieve this goal, LTL voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, following an established and legal process for resolving these cases. You can learn more about this here.

The stories of anyone suffering from any form of cancer are tragic. We sympathize deeply with these patients and their families, and we appreciate that they seek answers. The science and the facts, however, show that their illnesses were not caused by their use of our talc-based products.

我們是壹家致力於讓每壹個人健康長壽的公司。我們是某人的兒女、兄弟姊妹、父母親和祖父母,就像您一樣。我們在自己、我們的孩子和我們的孫子身上使用公司生產的產品。我們知道自己被信任並身負重任,所以我們小心謹慎擔負您所交付的責任。

Decades of independent scientific testing have confirmed that our products are safe, do not contain asbestos and do not cause cancer.
 
We recognize the anxiety and confusion these cases have caused, and that many people who have used and continue to use talc-based products have questions. We also know there will be more discussion. This site is designed to share the facts about talc and these cases, and to help you and your family understand the steps we have taken and why we continue to stand behind the safety of Johnson’s Baby Powder.

事實

  • 我們對安全性的承諾從我們所選的滑石開始

    我們在過程中的每一個階段都十分小心,確保在我們產品中使用的化妝品滑石並沒有受到石綿汙染。只有大約 5% 的滑石被使用於化妝品中。其餘的滑石被用於像屋頂、建築材料或陶瓷等工業材料中。在我們決定能夠在一個滑石礦場採集我們製作滑石產品所需的滑石之前,我們會與專業地質學家一同評估,這些地質學家了解所有關於礦床如何形成、以及在哪裡形成的各方面資訊。

    對於我們為嬌生嬰兒爽身粉在美國和加拿大的礦坑所採集的滑石,政府部門和學界的報告確認這些用於我們產品中的滑石礦石不含石綿。

  • 指控我們的滑石含有石綿在幾十年前就已經被證明為不實控訴。

    在 1970 年代,根據不可靠測試方法的初步錯誤的報告被媒體報導,暗示我們的滑石中可能含有石綿。來自世界各地的科學家(包含在美國食品藥物管理局(FDA)的科學家)花了很多年研究此議題,最後做出結論:嬌生的滑石並未受到石綿的汙染。

    隨著科技的進步,科學家和監管人員已經設立一套標準方法,以便精準確實地測試滑石中是否含有石綿。嬌生不僅符合各項標準,甚至因為使用最先進的方法精準確實地測試滑石中的石棉含量,而超越各項標準。這代表我們不僅使用傳統的顯微鏡檢驗滑石,我們也使用放大倍數極高的電子顯微鏡。

    在 1970 和 1980 年代,我們每隔一小時都從滑石加工中心蒐集樣品,這樣我們才能測試滑石中是否含有石綿。另外,我們混合並測試滑石礦石的樣品,每個月至少一次。我們也混合並測試已經可以被包裝的滑石樣品,每兩個星期至少一次。這些樣品在每個季度會再被測試,作為額外的審查。

    這曾是──也依然是──所有測試的重點:重複測試越多次,就會從測試中得到更高程度的精確度和保證。如果只測試一次,那就只會有某一程度的保證。年年週復一週的測試都得到相同的結果,讓我們非常有信心,確定自己的產品不含石綿。

  • 美國食品藥物管理局(FDA)在評估滑石安全性中的角色

    美國食品藥物管理局(FDA)的使命是保護大眾的健康,包括確保化妝品可被安全使用,並在化妝品上正確標示。過去幾十年來,美國食品藥物管理局(FDA)一直都參與調查和測試化妝品中的滑石,其中也包括嬌生的滑石產品。在 1970 年代,美國食品藥物管理局(FDA)開始一項為期四年的密集調查,深入研究含滑石的化妝品(包含嬌生的產品)是否受到石綿汙染。根據調查的結果,美國食品藥物管理局(FDA)做出結論:「在這些產品〔包含嬌生的產品〕中所使用的滑石均沒有被石綿汙染。」

    1986 年,美國食品藥物管理局(FDA)發表聲明,認為並不需要在含有滑石的化妝品上附警語,並引述其研究和持續調查的結果。美國食品藥物管理局(FDA)甚至說:「一生都接觸含有石綿的滑石化妝品預期的最高風險,比接觸暴露在環境中的石棉的風險要低得多。」

    在 2009 年到 2010 年間,美國食品藥物管理局(FDA)測試四位供應商的原始滑石,其中也包括嬌生嬰兒爽身粉以及已經停產的 Shower to Shower 系列產品的供應商,也測試了嬌生嬰兒爽身粉以及Shower to Shower 系列產品,並確認沒有一項產品含有石綿。

    2014 年,當美國食品藥物管理局(FDA)調查滑石和卵巢癌之間可能的關聯時,又再次聲明並沒有任何能夠做出結論的證據,證明滑石為致癌的原因。

    2019年10月18日,美國食品藥物管理局(FDA)在數十年不斷測試嬌生使用的滑石後,美國食品藥物管理局(FDA)首次告知嬌生,其對一批嬌生嬰兒爽身粉的其中一瓶所做的測試,結果顯示該瓶爽身粉受到微量的溫石綿汙染(0.00002%)。同時,美國食品藥物管理局(FDA)也說其在測試另一批不同的滑石樣品時,並未發現石綿。為了以防萬一,嬌生公司自願回收美國食品藥物管理局(FDA)測試出有問題的那批爽身粉。嬌生公司立刻對此事件展開詳盡的調查,並和美國食品藥物管理局(FDA)合作,回答與測試相關的問題,包括受測試樣品的完整性以及測試結果的有效性。

  • 研究顯示可安心使用我們的滑石

    嬌生的滑石粉產品,包括嬌生嬰兒爽身粉和之前的 Shower to Shower 系列產品,都由最可信賴的科學研究證實為可安心使用的產品。

    卵巢癌:Four major independent cohort studies that followed more than 80,000 women who used talcum powder over a period of at least 6 to 24 years to determine if talcum powder use for feminine hygiene causes ovarian cancer concluded that the use of talc is not associated with increased risk of ovarian cancer. 前瞻性世代研究廣為大眾接受,是十分值得信賴的方法,可用來調查使用或暴露在某產品中和疾病之間是否有關聯。在這類型的研究中,一群人會被問及與各種不同的可能風險因數相關的問題,包括使用某種特定產品,接著會被追蹤一段時間,以蒐集相關數據。Cohort studies have helped scientists understand the link between smoking and lung cancer, high cholesterol and heart disease, and many other health topics we consider common knowledge today.The most recent cohort study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, pooled a number of these high-level epidemiological studies and found no statistically significant increased risk of ovarian cancer with talc use.

    有些病例對照研究認為卵巢癌和滑石使用之間有些微的統計關聯,但其他有類似設計的病例對照研究並不認為卵巢癌和滑石使用之間有任何關聯。專家對這些病例對照研究抱持懷疑的態度,因為研究結果不一致,當這些研究出現偏正向的結果時,可能是因為研究設計的限制。這些研究的限制被稱為「回憶偏差」,也就是說,生病的人比沒病的人更有可能記得過去發生的事。這些病例對照研究中,研究對象知道自己患有卵巢癌,所以會盡力回想任何可能對她們為何罹患此糟糕疾病來說是重要的資訊。這可能會造成一種假象,好像罹患癌症的女性使用較多的滑石粉,但事實上,只是因為她們對自己這幾年來的衛生棉使用習慣記得比較清楚。大型的前瞻性研究被認為更值得信賴,有一部份的原因是沒有任何一位女性會知道自己以後是否會得卵巢癌,所以她們不會有任何回憶偏差,而整體而言,這些研究也沒有發現卵巢癌和滑石粉使用之間的關聯。

    間皮瘤:間皮瘤是一種主要因接觸石綿而罹患的癌症。石綿是一種存在於環境中自然生成的礦物,少量的石綿纖維在空氣中隨處可見。

    並沒有可靠的科學研究證實吸入化妝品中的滑石會導致間皮瘤。事實上,數個研究調查數千位每天暴露於滑石中採礦或碾磨滑石粉的人,並未發現任何人罹患間皮瘤,此顯示暴露於大量滑石中,並不會增加一個人罹患間皮瘤的風險。

    再者,大規模的報告曾研究動過名為肋膜沾黏法的醫療程序的病人,手術在病人的肺部注入滑石,報告發現沒有任何一位病人罹患間皮瘤。

洞悉法庭

The first high profile trial related to these claims was in 2013, where plaintiffs’ counsel alleged that use of talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder and Johnson & Johnson’s former product Shower to Shower caused a woman to develop ovarian cancer. 雖然陪審團認為嬌生敗訴,但並沒有要求嬌生賠償。

Since then, there have been several additional trials where juries have awarded significant verdicts against Johnson & Johnson, but many of those verdicts have been overturned on appeal.

Following those initial cases, trial lawyers have since shifted their theory, alleging that Johnson & Johnson’s talc contains asbestos. (第一件間皮瘤案於 2017 年秋季審判)。

These latest claims go back to flawed news stories in the 1970’s that claimed to detect asbestos in talc based on unreliable methodology. After those reports, an investigation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, as well as independent testing, contributed to the development of more reliable testing methodologies and confirmed that there was no asbestos in our talcum powder products. Plaintiffs’ attorneys seek to bring back an issue that has already been resolved.

這些案件部分是根據 1970 年代的早期資訊,其中已經有幾個案件已經接受審判。In the majority of cases that reached a jury verdict, the juries have voted in favor of Johnson & Johnson; in others, juries have not been able to reach a verdict; in a small minority of others, the juries have voted in favor of the plaintiffs— including awarding some very large dollar amounts.

With all of the legal cases and the expectation that trial lawyers would continue to bring additional cases against Johnson & Johnson for years to come, the Company established a separate subsidiary, LTL Management LLC (LTL), in 2021年10月. LTL is responsible for holding and managing all liabilities related to Johnson & Johnson’s talc litigation in North America. Also in 2021年10月, LTL voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, activating a process designed to equitably and efficiently resolve all talc claims in North America for all parties, including anyone who may have current or future legal claims against the Company. Chapter 11 is a well-established and lawful process in the U.S. to bring parties together to negotiate a resolution to litigation.

On 2023年4月4日, LTL re-filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey to obtain approval of a reorganization plan that will equitably and efficiently resolve all claims arising from cosmetic talc litigation against the Company and its affiliates in North America. The re-filed case addresses concerns cited by the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which dismissed LTL’s initial bankruptcy on legal grounds in a 2023年1月 ruling. LTL’s re-filed case, and the proposed plan announced in 2023年4月, is supported by 60,000 current claimants.

Most recently, on 2023年4月20日, the Bankruptcy Court authorized a preliminary injunction to extend the stay on pending cases in the Company’s talc litigation in North America. The stay will remain in place until 2023年6月15日, providing additional time for the parties to reach a permanent resolution.

LTL is working closely with the plaintiffs’ lawyers to continue building consensus for LTL’s Plan of Reorganization.

探討細節

  • 原告審判律師用可疑事實支持他們的說法

    Numerous leading independent institutions, laboratories, universities and governmental agencies have all investigated this issue since the 1970s and concluded that there is no asbestos in our cosmetic talc products.

    我們已經做過這麼多的測試,那為什麼原告審判律師仍宣稱我們的產品含有石綿?

    他們使用雇用的證人供詞來支持自己的說法,並使用和獨立第三方不相吻合的可疑事實。

    These same witnesses include individuals who, before they were hired to testify against Johnson & Johnson, had testified under oath that that asbestos in cosmetic talc was "an urban legend."

    比如說,證人可能會用錯誤的科學方法測試滑石。其中一位證人承認「就算他發現的東西不是石綿」,他仍會稱其為石綿。

    另一個例子是,他們測試的產品可能在購買後被汙染。一位證人測試四瓶從商店架上購買的嬌生嬰兒爽身粉。每一瓶的測試結果均為不含石綿。但當他測試從其他來源取得的產品時──很多是直接從原告審判律師在 eBay 上所購得──他聲稱有些產品的確含有石綿。A California court prevented this witness from presenting this evidence at trial because they could not confirm the samples were not contaminated.

    另一位目前被原告審判律師雇用、要作證嬌生的滑石導致間皮瘤的證人,曾在較早案件中作證,說嬌生的滑石和間皮瘤之間的關聯並非完全可信。

  • 原告審判律師錯誤歸類歷史文件

    我們的測試紀錄──數十年來以超越政府和業界標準不斷重複測試──始終如一地顯示嬌生化妝品中的滑石並不含石綿。

    原告審判律師卻有意將公司文件斷章取義,引起困惑。不顧我們測試產品的大量紀錄,只選擇於法庭上呈交歷史文件中的一部份,告訴法官先前的研究結果發現我們的產品含有石綿。通常這些文件都和嬌生產品所使用的滑石毫無關聯。比如說,他們指出,有一份文件提到滑石中含有石綿,但同一份文件清楚地說明只在用於工業材料的滑石中發現石綿。或者,他們指出,有一份文件提出在未知的商業用滑石樣品中發現石綿,卻忽略另一份文件寫到所有的嬌生樣品均未受到石綿汙染。又或者,他們指出,有一份文件提出樣品裡含有石綿,卻忽略這是為了測試目的,而故意將石綿添加進這些樣品中。

  • 原告審判律師散布陰謀論

    原告審判律師宣稱嬌生內部密謀,故意販賣我們知道含有石綿的產品。此為不實說法。事實上,若此控訴為真,那幾十間測試過我們產品的聯邦和州政府機構、獨立實驗室、科學家和知名大學在這 50 年以來,就和我們一起密謀、隱瞞此資訊。

在這些案件中,已有超過 5,000 份文件被接受成為證據。我們邀請您檢視證據,並做出決定

免責聲明:

嬌生在此網站公開由一個或多個嬌生集團公司提供在審判中做為證據的文件。這些審判物證並非機密文件,雖然有些文件上仍蓋有「機密」字樣的印章。我們盡力將物證維持其在審判時的原貌,(例如保留標記和/或其他註記),但可能因公司的保存方式而有些不同。本網站會定期更新。

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