Johnson & Johnson, an American pharmaceutical company, says it will stop selling its talc-based baby powder globally in 2023.

The company said talc will be replaced by cornstarch.

The move comes after over 40,000 lawsuits were filed against the company by consumers who claimed that its talc-based baby powder contained asbestos, a known carcinogen, and had caused them to develop cancer.

In 2018, an investigation by Reuters alleged that Johnson & Johnson knew for decades that asbestos was present in its baby powder.

However, the company had claimed that its product is safe to use.

“As part of a worldwide portfolio assessment, we have made the commercial decision to transition to an all cornstarch-based baby powder portfolio,” the company said in a statement issued on Thursday.

“As a result of this transition, talc-based Johnson’s baby powder will be discontinued globally in 2023.”

The company also insisted that the talc-based baby powder did not cause cancer.

It said the decision to stop selling the product was about optimising its portfolio for long-term business growth.

“Our position on the safety of our cosmetic talc remains unchanged,” the statement added.

“We stand firmly behind decades of independent scientific analysis by medical experts around the world that confirm that talc-based Johnson’s baby powder is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer.

“We continuously evaluate and optimise our portfolio to best position the business for long-term growth.

“This transition will help simplify our product offerings, deliver sustainable innovation, and meet the needs of our consumers, customers and evolving global trends.”