Johnson & Johnson
Flagged · AvoidMultinational pharmaceutical and consumer goods corporation known for baby products and personal care items.
Last updated May 21, 2026
↓ Skip to 5 ethical alternativesReasons to avoid
Issues span:Consumer
- A Baltimore jury ordered Johnson and Johnson to pay over $1.5 billion in December 2025 to a woman who developed mesothelioma after decades of using its talc-based baby powder, the largest single-plaintiff talc verdict against the company. J&J faces roughly 60,000 pending talc lawsuits and has failed three times to use bankruptcy to shield itself from them, with internal documents from the 1970s showing the company's own scientists had detected asbestos in some talc samples.
- Washington state's attorney general secured a $149.5 million settlement from Johnson and Johnson in January 2024 over its role in the opioid crisis, finding that J&J's Janssen subsidiary manufactured and supplied active pharmaceutical ingredients for powerful opioid painkillers while using deceptive marketing tactics that downplayed addiction risks. The settlement required J&J to fund opioid treatment and prevention programs across the state.
- Johnson and Johnson agreed to a $700 million settlement with 42 states in June 2024 over decades of deceptive marketing of its talc-based baby powder, including making claims the product was pure and safe while internal tests had detected asbestos contamination. The settlement required J&J to stop claiming its talc products were safe and to fund consumer education about asbestos-related health risks.
Ethical alternatives
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Earth Mama Organics
Organic baby care products with natural ingredients, chosen by hospital NICUs. Offers diaper balm, baby oil, and castile-based washes.
🌿 Organic🌿 Natural
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Babo Botanicals
Vegan, cruelty-free, pediatrician-tested baby products. Certified B Corp and EWG Verified with fragrance-free options for sensitive skin.
✅ B-Corp🐰 Cruelty-Free🌿 Organic
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Pipette
EWG Verified and Leaping Bunny certified baby skincare. Free from sulfates and synthetic fragrances, designed for sensitive skin.
🐰 Cruelty-Free🌿 Natural
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The Honest Company
Clean, conscious baby and beauty products. Cruelty-free with transparent ingredient lists and sustainable practices.
🐰 Cruelty-Free♻️ Sustainable
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Weleda
Eco-friendly personal care using biodynamic agriculture and plant-based formulas. Specializes in calendula and white mallow for baby skin.
🌿 Organic♻️ Sustainable🐰 Cruelty-Free
Visit →Common Questions
- Is Johnson & Johnson ethical?
- Johnson & Johnson faces roughly 60,000 talc lawsuits, with internal documents from the 1970s showing its own scientists detected asbestos in some talc samples. A Baltimore jury ordered J&J to pay over $1.5 billion to a single mesothelioma patient in December 2025, the largest single-plaintiff talc verdict against the company. J&J also settled with 42 states for $700 million in 2024 over decades of deceptive baby powder marketing.
- Why should I avoid Johnson & Johnson?
- J&J's Janssen subsidiary used deceptive marketing to downplay addiction risks for opioid painkillers, resulting in a $149.5 million settlement with Washington state in 2024. J&J has attempted three times to use bankruptcy to limit liability for talc lawsuits rather than compensate victims, and a federal judge has rejected each attempt.
- What are the best ethical alternatives to Johnson & Johnson?
- Earth Mama Organics makes organic baby care products chosen by hospital NICUs. Babo Botanicals is a B Corp certified, cruelty-free, pediatrician-tested baby brand. Weleda uses biodynamic agriculture and plant-based formulas, specializing in calendula for baby skin.