The US Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into the pharmaceutical and consumer goods company Johnson & Johnson, according to a media report. It was investigated whether Johnson & Johnson had lied about the potential cancer risks of its talcum powder, the agency Bloomberg reported yesterday, citing insiders.
A grand jury will examine documents to find out what company representatives may have known about carcinogenic substances in their products. Johnson & Johnson had announced in February, without mentioning details, that it had received subpoenas from the Justice Department and the US Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the ongoing dispute over baby powder.
The company said to Reuters in an email that there had been no new developments in the matter. The Ministry of Justice initially did not comment. Johnson & Johnson shares fell 5 percent.
