Johnson & Johnson Products and the Truth About Non-Toxic Soap

For generations, the Johnson & Johnson brand was synonymous with baby care. Baby wash, baby powder, baby lotion — they were the products gifted to every new mother and even hospital nurses relied on them for post-delivery infant care. However, that's not the case anymore. A number of high-profile lawsuits have put a spotlight on Johnson & Johnson, revealing products that are made with potentially dangerous ingredients.

For many families, these revelations have sparked a broader conversation about ingredient transparency and whether widely trusted brands truly offer non-toxic soap and personal care products. Today, we'll provide an overview of Johnson & Johnson's legal issues as well as our thoughts about the safety of personal care products. Finally, we'll give you a list of the best, all-natural products to use instead of those manufactured by Johnson & Johnson.

What You Need to Know About the Johnson & Johnson Lawsuits

Jackie Fox died of ovarian cancer in 2015. She'd used Johnson & Johnson baby powder for decades, and in the wake of her death, Fox's family argued that the incessant use of the sweet-smelling powder had cost Fox her life.

The connection between talc — particularly asbestos-contaminated talc — and ovarian cancer risk has been acknowledged since at least 1976. That year, the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrances Association (CTFA), which represents the cosmetic and personal care products industry, issued guidelines stating that any talc used in cosmetic products should be free from detectable amounts of asbestos.

Also in 1976, Johnson & Johnson told the FDA that no asbestos had been found in any of its talc-containing products. But that wasn't true. Three tests by three different labs found asbestos in Johnson & Johnson baby powder. In one case, the level of asbestos was listed as "rather high."

This was the crux of the argument presented by Fox's family. They argued that while Johnson & Johnson's baby powder was purported to be safe enough for infants, it had, in fact, put Fox in grave danger. A St. Louis jury agreed and, in February 2016, ordered the multi-billion dollar company to pay $72 million in damages to Fox's family.

Legal Verdicts & Growing Public Awareness

Though the verdict would eventually be thrown out due to issues of jurisdiction, it was still a stunning defeat for Johnson & Johnson. The ruling also presented a remarkable victory for countless people who trusted the brand to provide safe products for their families. By the end of 2018, more than 11,000 people had filed their own suits against Johnson & Johnson, alleging that the company's baby powder had also caused their cancers.

Because of the public uproar, the company had to finally address what many already suspected: Johnson & Johnson had long known about the asbestos contamination of its baby powder and the resultant risks it posed for users yet it chose to keep that information hidden from the public for decades.

On December 19, 2018, a judge denied Johnson & Johnson's request to reverse a jury verdict that awarded more than $4 billion in damages to a group of women who also claimed that their ovarian cancer was caused by Johnson & Johnson baby powder. That verdict was later reduced to $2.1 billion on appeal but was ultimately upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2021.

Recent Developments (2020-2025)

The Johnson & Johnson talc saga has continued to unfold. Here's what's happened since the initial wave of lawsuits:

2020: Johnson & Johnson announced it would discontinue sales of talc-based baby powder in the United States and Canada, though the company maintained the product was safe.

2021-2024: The company attempted three separate times to resolve the lawsuits through bankruptcy by creating a subsidiary called LTL Management (later Red River Talc) and transferring talc liabilities to it. Each bankruptcy attempt was rejected by federal courts, with judges ruling that Johnson & Johnson didn't belong in bankruptcy because the company wasn't in financial distress.

July 2024: The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer reclassified talc from a "possible carcinogen" to a "probable carcinogen" — a significant development that strengthened plaintiffs' cases.

2025: As of late 2025, over 90,000 talcum powder lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson. In December 2025, a Maryland jury awarded $1.5 billion to a single plaintiff — the largest individual talc verdict ever issued against the company. Settlement negotiations and bellwether trials are ongoing.

Bend Soap Company Responds to the Johnson & Johnson Lawsuits

Our heart goes out to individuals and families whose lives have been forever changed by the use of products like Johnson & Johnson's, which have caused irreversible damage. We believe that consumers should be able to trust the companies that claim their products are "safe" and "gentle" and consider it a gross abuse of power that a company would knowingly put its customers in harm's way.

We also know that, while Johnson & Johnson's baby powder has been the product of focus following numerous lawsuits, it's not the only problematic product on the market. In fact, Johnson & Johnson also settled a $2.4 million class-action lawsuit against claims that its baby wash wasn't as "natural" as it was purported to be.

When the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics tested hundreds of personal and baby care products to determine whether they contained potentially dangerous chemical compounds that weren't listed on product labels, the organization discovered formaldehyde and 1,4 dioxane — two chemicals that have been linked to cancer, skin irritation, and other issues — in dozens of conventional baby products.

Caring for children is challenging enough without the constant worry of whether the products being sold in stores will cause harm to their small bodies. We are parents, so we understand this issue well. When our son was diagnosed with eczema, we struggled to find all-natural products that would soothe his inflammation and nourish his skin back to health.

We couldn't find anything that met our standards, so we took matters into our own hands by creating a line of non-toxic, chemical free soap and personal care products that are hypoallergenic and safe for babies and adults. They're also the ideal alternatives to Johnson & Johnson's products. Every product is made with transparency in mind, using simple ingredient soap formulations that families can feel confident using every day.

The Best Alternatives for Johnson & Johnson Products

Whether you're in need of a safe alternative to shampoo and lotion or body wash and baby oil, Bend Soap has created safe and 100% all-natural skincare products that are suitable for everyone in your home — even newborns!

Now, let's walk through our top recommendations for non-toxic soap and skincare alternatives. Each one is designed to replace common Johnson & Johnson products without hidden chemicals or misleading claims.

Non-Toxic Soap Alternatives for Bath Time

Goat Milk Soap

Our goat milk soap is the flagship non-toxic soap product of Bend Soap Company, created to cleanse our son's skin while also helping to naturally manage his eczema. Along the way, we discovered how beneficial it was for everyone in our family.

Each of our goat milk soaps is made with just a few natural ingredients, plus essential oils added to some for a boost of natural scent, so there's never a question about safety or what's inside. As an added bonus, it can be used on your entire body and even replace your shampoo products.

A single bar of this Unscented Goat Milk Soap can replace the following products:

• Johnson's Baby Bar
• Johnson's Baby Shampoo
• Johnson's Calming Shampoo (to help put restless minds at ease, grab a bar of our Hint of Lavender Goat Milk Soap)
• Johnson's No More Tangles® Shampoo
• Johnson's Clean & Fresh Shampoo & Body Wash
• Johnson's Ultra-Hydrating Shampoo

→ Browse all goat milk soap options

Goat Milk Bath

Our milk bath delivers the hydrating goodness of goat milk in an easy and convenient package. Made from shredded bars of our best-selling goat milk soap, all you need is a handful or two of the shreds of goat milk soap to create a nourishing and luxurious bath soak. It's a great alternative to kids' bubble baths and bath bombs that are often made with dangerous fragrances, artificial dyes, and other toxic ingredients.

One single container of our Oatmeal & Honey Milk Bath could replace all of the following Johnson & Johnson products:

• Johnson's CottonTouch™ Newborn Wash & Shampoo
• Johnson's Baby Bubble Bath
• Johnson's Bedtime Bath & Bedtime Bubble Bath (try our Hint of Lavender Milk Bath)
• Johnson's Head-To-Toe® Wash and Shampoo
• Johnson's Skin Nourish Vanilla Oat Wash
• Johnson's Skin Nourish Shea & Cocoa Butter Wash
• Johnson's Skin Nourish Sweet Apple Wash (for a sweet, floral-infused bathtime experience, grab our Vienna Rose Milk Bath)
• Johnson's Baby Moisture Wash
• Johnson's Bedtime® Moisture Wash (for a gentle lavender soak, try our Lavender Blossom Milk Bath)

Gentle, Chemical-Free Alternatives for Moisturizing

Goat Milk Lotion

After your bath or shower, ditch the baby lotion and slather on some of our creamy, fast drying goat milk lotion. It's made with all-natural ingredients including goat milk, shea butter, and aloe vera and contains zero artificial ingredients or preservatives of any kind. There are absolutely no GMO oils or synthetic dyes and it's gentle enough for even the youngest infant.

One bottle of our Unscented Goat Milk Lotion can safely and easily replace the following:

• Johnson's Baby Lotion
• Johnson's Lavender Oil Gel
• Johnson's Bedtime® Baby Lotion (opt for our Lavender Goat Milk Lotion for a relaxing, lavender-infused aroma)
• Johnsons' Aloe & Vitamin E Oil
• Johnson's Shea & Cocoa Butter Oil Gel
• Johnson's CottonTouch™ Newborn Face & Body Lotion
• Johnson's Head-To-Toe Lotion
• Johnson's No More Tangles® Conditioner (yes, our goat milk lotion can work as a great leave-in conditioner!)
• Johnson's Ultra-Hydrating Conditioner
• Johnson's Skin Nourish Vanilla Oat Lotion
• Johnson's Skin Nourish Shea & Cocoa Butter Lotion
• Johnson's Skin Nourish Sweet Apple Lotion (for a sweeter scent, grab a bottle of our Island Coconut Goat Milk Lotion or Almond Delight Goat Milk Lotion)

Natural Alternatives for Diaper Rash and Sensitive Skin

Soothing Salve

Diaper rash happens, but the next time that you find your baby suffering from agitated, sensitive skin, skip the chemical-filled diaper rash cream and grab a tin of our Soothing Salve instead.

Made with just a handful of 100% all-natural ingredients that greatly benefit the skin, this is the best alternative to regular diaper rash creams and ointments. Just add a thin layer of the salve to your baby's skin at the first sign of diaper rash (look for sore, sensitive skin) and you've got a truly natural alternative to common store-bought brands.

Keeping a tin of Soothing Salve on hand means you can avoid the toxins in all of these products:

• DESITIN® Daily Defense Cream
• DESITIN® Maximum Strength Original Paste
• DESITIN® Multi Purpose Healing Ointment
• Johnson's Baby Oil
• Johnson's Aloe & Vitamin E Powder
• Johnson's Baby Powder & Lavender Powder
• Johnson's Medicated Baby Powder
• Baby Creamy Oil with Aloe & Vitamin E
• Shea & Cocoa Butter Baby Oil

Choosing a Non-Toxic Soap You Can Trust

When you spend your hard-earned money to buy products for your family, you shouldn't have to worry about whether they will irritate your child's skin or increase your risk of getting cancer. We can't speak for other brands, but we can guarantee that Bend Soap Company products are safe and gentle enough for your whole family.

Choosing products made with transparent, chemical free soap and skincare ingredients helps families avoid the hidden risks often found in conventional personal care brands. With that in mind, we encourage you to try our goat milk soap, milk bath, and goat milk lotion, to build new family traditions with products that you can actually trust.

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