America’s Most Hated Companies

For years, Johnson & Johnson had faced accusations from customers that its talcum product, such as baby powder, had caused their cancer. It is facing roughly 17,000 lawsuits related to the issue, including one by the state of New Mexico. In July 2018, a Missouri jury awarded $4.69 billion to 22 women who claimed J&J talcum powder gave them ovarian cancer.

Further damaging the company’s reputation was a 2018 Reuters report that claimed the over 130-year-old health care company knew for more than 40 years that its baby powder contained asbestos, which is known to cause cancer. The company called the article “false and inflammatory.” Still, in October 2019, the company issued a nationwide recall of baby powder after finding asbestos in the product. Though it claims the product is now safe, J&J’s reputation is in tatters.

J&J received an F rating from the Better Business Bureau due to government action taken against the company as well as a number of unaddressed complaints.

After years of declining tobacco use among teenagers, American high school students are picking up the habit again. E-cigarette use has more than doubled among high schoolers from 2017 to 2019. Many have blamed e-cigarette maker Juul, and its small portable e-cigarettes, for contributing to the rise in underage nicotine use and addiction. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids says Juuls may have especially high doses of nicotine that can hook users.

Juul Labs agreed to pull some fruity, sweet-flavored pods off brick-and-mortar store shelves in 2018 because they may be more appealing to children. In early 2020, the Trump administration banned all fruity, dessert, or mint flavors from cartridge-based e-cigarettes like Juuls.