Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder sales and its brand may take a hit in India amid reports that the product could contain cancer-causing asbestos, and investigations are being carried out at some of its factories in the country.
“I'm angry, shocked and sad to hear such reports,” said Chaitra Devarhubli in Mumbai, who had been using the powder for her one-year-old baby up until she heard the news reports about the talc. “Being a mother, it's terrifying that I have been using such a product for my baby.”
A report by Reuters claimed that J&J knew for decades its baby powder could contain asbestos, prompting its market value to plunge by more than $40 billion in a day. Its share price has lost nearly 14 per cent of its value since the report came out.
On Wednesday, the company said that a "few of our facilities" in India were visited by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and local food and drug administrations' regulatory authorities in some states. "We are fully co-operating with them by providing tests and samples," J&J said in a statement emailed to The National.
The company has denied the allegations. J&J insists that its “baby powder is asbestos-free and does not cause cancer” and that it is “compliant with regulatory standards and requirements in India and will continue to work with the regulatory authorities”.
CDSCO and India's ministry of health did not respond to requests for comments.
The crisis deepened on Wednesday in the United States when a Missouri court rejected the company's bid to overturn a $4.7bn verdict awarded to a group of women who blamed asbestos in the baby powder for causing ovarian cancer.
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Read more:
No more tears: can Johnson & Johnson's offensive limit damage over asbestos controversy?
Why Johnson & Johnson lost $45 billion in one day
Jury orders Johnson & Johnson to pay nearly $5bn over cancer claims
Starbucks California must display cancer warning, judge rules
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The manager at one chain of pharmacies in Mumbai, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that its stores were still selling the full range of Johnson & Johnson products.
Sales of the goods were going to be affected by the reports, he said. If there were problems with the products, authorities "would take action" and ban the powder, he added.
Otherwise, he said most shops in India were unlikely to remove the goods from their shelves.
Such a ban would come as a blow to J&J. The company has been in India for seven decades, with its baby powder being the first product it brought into the market in the country, according to its website. J&J employs more than 3,500 people across its consumer healthcare, medical devices and pharmaceuticals divisions in India.
N Chandramouli, the chief executive of TRA Research, a brand insights consultancy in India, said there will be major repercussions for J&J from the crisis.
“Naturally, there will be investigations that follow, but the damage to the brand has already been done,” says Mr Chandramouli. “This news puts doubts on the values and morals of Johnson & Johnson. This is not about Johnson & Johnson baby powder, but about all of Johnson & Johnson. They have lost the trust of millions of people.”
One of those people who now has concerns about the goods is Vaibhav Pande in Delhi, who said that his family had been using the talc products for two decades, but after reading the news, he is “looking for other options”.
He added that he is “taking the reports with a pinch of salt”, until there is firm evidence.
“Authorities should check the truth and if something wrong emerges, strict action should be taken.”
Some have not just lost trust in the brand.
“Such an old brand like Johnson & Johnson, if harmful, I wonder if other baby products from other companies would be equally bad or worse,” said Ms Devarhubli.
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
'Spies in Disguise'
Director: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane
Stars: Will Smith, Tom Holland, Karen Gillan and Roshida Jones
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Episode list:
Ep1: A recovery like no other- the unevenness of the economic recovery
Ep2: PCR and jobs - the future of work - new trends and challenges
Ep3: The recovery and global trade disruptions - globalisation post-pandemic
Ep4: Inflation- services and goods - debt risks
Ep5: Travel and tourism
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Representing%20UAE%20overseas
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Volunteers offer workers a lifeline
Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.
When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.
Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.
Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.
“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.
Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.
“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Signs%20of%20%20%20%20%20%20%20heat%20stroke
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