People may have seen the recent publicity about compensation claims following talcum powder use.

A group action was commenced in the High Court in London in October 2025. The action seeks compensation for cancers allegedly caused by historic exposure to asbestos in talcum powder, with Johnson & Johnson named as a manufacturer of talc products, including their baby powder.

Compensation is being sought for many hundreds of people who have been diagnosed not just with mesothelioma but also ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer and peritoneal cancer. It is claimed that talcum powder contained asbestos until Johnson & Johnson switched to corn starch instead of talc in 2023.

Have talc claims been brought in the UK before?

Claims in the UK against the producers of products containing asbestos are a new phenomenon but they are well established in the United States. Talc claims for mesothelioma in the USA have had a proven track record over the last few years and significant settlements are being achieved. The claims in the USA are based on product liability where UK based claimants have either visited the USA or used certain USA manufactured talc-based products. These are not limited to talcum powder itself but also include well-known cosmetics products including make up like eyeshadow and face powder from many brands whose products contained talc. Claims in the US are pursued on an individual basis, rather than as a group action, meaning a person’s specific circumstances and exposure are taken into account and compensation sought for them alone in each claim.

Talc and asbestos are both minerals that occur naturally and it is thought talc may be contaminated with asbestos from the proximity of talc and asbestos deposits to each other when talc is being mined. It is significant that the UK group action names Johnson & Johnson because when they were faced with claims in the USA they put themselves into insolvency – before re-constituting themselves again - to avoid liability for the historic claims.

Initially when the USA talc claims for UK based claimants were first being pursued, advice was given to the court by a senior UK based barrister that product liability claims in the UK were unlikely to be viable. However, since then claims against Cape Asbestos based on product liability due to manufacturing and supply of inherently dangerous products have been possible, with settlements having been achieved. However, no cases have yet gone to court/trial. Cape were manufacturers of asbestos products and were aware asbestos was dangerous for many years but because of their commercial interest in the continued use of asbestos they tried very hard to avoid publicity about the dangers.

The UK talc litigation that you may have heard about will require the courts to take another leap forwards in order to succeed as there are limited precedents in this area. Johnson & Johnson are likely to robustly defend the claims and so they may be more protracted and difficult. The ovarian or other cancer cases are likely to be more difficult still as the epidemiology linking ovarian or other cancers to talc is much more embryonic than the link for mesothelioma.

Should I pursue a talc claim if I have been diagnosed with mesothelioma?

Use of talcum powder, including Johnson & Johnson baby powder, is so common that many people diagnosed with mesothelioma may be able to remember using talc themselves. However, the use of talc doesn’t mean that it will automatically be possible to pursue a claim for compensation for mesothelioma as a result (it seems that use for more than 5 years may be necessary to even potentially qualify to make a claim).

Further seeking to pursue a talc claim may not be the best course of action, and even if a person diagnosed with mesothelioma does not know how they were exposed, it is advisable that they speak to a specialist solicitor to consider other potential routes to pursuing their claim.

Asbestos was such a common product that almost anyone of a certain vintage (myself included) will have come into contact with it at work, at school, as a result of nearby industry polluting the atmosphere or even family members working with it and inadvertently bringing it home on their work clothes. All these circumstances may give rise to a potential UK civil claim which may be more straightforward to pursue than a UK talc claim, where compensation tailored to individual circumstances can be sought.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, help and advice is available. Mesothelioma UK is a national charity with a network of specialist nurses to support people with mesothelioma throughout the UK. In addition, there are support groups in many areas who work hard to offer support, advice, assistance with benefits and provide an opportunity to enable you to connect with others with mesothelioma in your area.

We work closely with charity HASAG which has a long history of supporting those diagnosed with asbestos related illnesses. The support they offer is unparalleled – they can even help you and your family members access counselling. HASAG have established a panel of specialist lawyers who are experts in pursuing asbestos-related claims, and who all confirm that clients will be visited at a time and place to suit them, and that there will be no unpleasant surprises in the form of unexpected legal fees. There are no deductions from compensation for successful UK civil claims.

This may not be the case for the UK talc group action as the lawyers' own website says “you only pay if your claim succeeds” suggesting legal fees will be payable if the claim is successful.

Many people with mesothelioma have also been given the peace of mind of knowing they can access bespoke medical treatment through their UK civil claim. Such treatment has enabled people with mesothelioma to live better, and for longer, as a result of the specialist medical treatment they have received. It is not clear whether the UK talc group action will be able to achieve access to bespoke private medical treatment. Even if it is possible in principle, it may be optimistic to assume it will be achievable in practice in the context of a group action that has only just been commenced.

If you have seen the publicity about the UK talc litigation and are wondering where to turn for help, please do speak to HASAG, as they will be able to offer you truly holistic support and advice. They and their legal panel will be able to explore all possible avenues of exposure to asbestos and if you are able to make a UK civil claim then it will be fast tracked through the courts, you will not face an unexpected legal bill, and you may be able to access bespoke medical treatment as well.

If a UK civil claim is not possible the lawyer you speak to will be able to help you access compensation from funds like the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme or the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme if you were exposed to asbestos at work and your employers/their insurers cannot be pursued. They will also be able to explore the possibility of a talc claim in the USA and also assess whether a UK talc claim may be feasible or appropriate for you.