As far back as 1971, Johnson & Johnson had evidence its baby powder had been testing positive for asbestos. Instead of warning the public, the company tried hiding the evidence, threatened scientists, researchers and medical professionals with lawsuits, and got the government to do its bidding.
In the subsequent 47 years, thousands of people who regularly used baby powder and had none of the normal risk factors associated with exposure to asbestos, were diagnosed with mesothelioma and other cancers. Johnson & Johnson was able to defend itself from several lawsuits by hiding evidence of the contamination of the talc used in baby powder with asbestos.
This is another in the long line of examples of corporate America deciding profits and stock price matter more than our lives. When you hear Republicans talking about the value of deregulation and the benefits of capitalism, remember the lives lost to use of baby powder and the corporation that knowingly disregarded those lives.