THE WHAT? Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health has announced that it has made the commercial decision to transition to an all-cornstarch baby powder portfolio.

THE DETAILS As a result of the transition, talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder will be discontinued globally in 2023. Cornstarch-based Johnson’s Baby Powder is already sold in countries around the world and the transition will help simplify product offerings, JnJ Consumer Health said.

THE WHY? Johnson & Johnson’s legal battles over the safety of talc are well documented but the US baby care manufacturer was keen to clarify that its position on the safety of its cosmetic talc remains unchanged. “We stand firmly behind the decades of independent scientific analysis by medical experts around the world that confirms talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer,” the company said in a statement.