Chattem Inc. – Maker of Gold Bond®
Chattem Inc. has owned the Gold Bond product franchise since the late 1990s. A 2014 lawsuit alleges that Gold Bond Powder caused one woman’s cancer. The talc used in this and similar powders is commonly contaminated with asbestos. Research has linked asbestos-laced talc to several forms of cancer.
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Chattem Inc. History of Asbestos Use
Chattem Inc. (Chattem) started as the Chattanooga Medicine Company in 1879. The company’s involvement with asbestos-contaminated products began when it acquired the Gold Bond Powder franchise. This purchase occurred in 1996. At the time, Gold Bond powders had been on the market for nearly 90 years.
Gold Bond started as a New England area powder brand in 1908. Manufacturing operations remained quite small until the brand was sold to Martin Himmel Inc. in the 1990s. This turning point launched Gold Bond powders onto the national market. Chattem Inc. acquired the Gold Bond Powder product line from Himmel in 1996.
For many years, Gold Bond powders used talc as a main ingredient. Talcum powder mines commonly contain asbestos alongside talc. This means many talcum powder products have been contaminated with the cancer-causing mineral.
Because of public outcry and litigation, many powder makers have moved away from using talc. Gold Bond began transitioning away from talc around 2020. As of 2025, most Gold Bond powders are labeled as “talc-free.”
Chattem was purchased by pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis in 2009. The Gold Bond personal care line now includes many types of lotions and face creams in addition to body powders. They are actively sold at major retailers nationwide.
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Chattem Inc. Asbestos Products
Like many powder makers, Chattem’s Gold Bond line used talc as a main ingredient for many years. Similar to Johnson & Johnson, Chattem recently replaced the talc in most of its powders with cornstarch. But Gold Bond powders purchased before 2020 may contain asbestos-contaminated talc.
Asbestos-laced talcum powder has been linked to serious illnesses. These include ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer and mesothelioma. Consumers who used talc-based Gold Bond powders may be at risk of developing these illnesses.
Some Chattem products at risk of asbestos contamination in the past include:
- Gold Bond Clear Body Powder Spray
- Gold Bond Comfort Body Powder
- Gold Bond Extra Strength Body Powder
- Gold Bond Foot Powder
- Gold Bond Men’s Body Powder Spray
- Gold Bond Men’s Essential Body Powder
- Gold Bond No Mess Body Powder Spray
- Gold Bond No Mess Foot Powder Spray
- Gold Bond Original Strength Body Powder
Chattem Inc. and Occupational Exposure
Asbestos contamination often occurs when mining for talc. Using this contaminated talc in cosmetic products may lead to asbestos exposure. Gold Bond talc-based powders may have contained varying amounts of asbestos in the past.
Individuals who may have been exposed to these contaminated talc products include:
- Athletes
- Babysitters
- Certified nurse assistants
- Childcare workers
- Elder care workers
- Factory workers
- Home health aides
- Hospice providers
- Nurses
- Powder manufacturers
Consumers and workers may have experienced asbestos exposure through these products. Occupational exposure may have occurred while manufacturing Gold Bond Powder products. Retail store workers and makeup artists may also have been exposed to asbestos in these products.
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Asbestos Lawsuits Against Chattem Inc.
In 2014, a lawsuit was filed against Chattem and several other powder manufacturers. The filing claims a woman died of ovarian cancer caused by asbestos-contaminated talc products. According to her husband, the manufacturers knew their products posed health risks.
The case was consolidated into federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) in late 2016. It is now one of nearly 60,000 pending lawsuits in MDL 2738. This is a federal court proceeding to handle consolidated lawsuits against talcum powder products.
Most of these cases have not been resolved, but some have. Among lawsuits similar to the one against Chattem, notable outcomes include:
- February 2016: A Missouri jury awarded a plaintiff $72 million in a talcum powder lawsuit.
- May 2016: A Missouri jury awarded a plaintiff $55 million in an ovarian cancer lawsuit.
- July 2018: A Missouri jury awarded $4.69 billion in a lawsuit to 22 women and their families. The women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer caused by asbestos talcum powder. The manufacturer later appealed this, and the verdict was set at $2.11 billion.
Juries have repeatedly ordered powder manufacturers to compensate asbestos cancer victims. Lawsuits can result in compensation through mesothelioma settlements or verdicts. Experienced mesothelioma law firms can help victims understand their options. These specialized asbestos lawyers know how to build strong cases and get victims the compensation they are owed.
Sources
American Cancer Society. Talcum Powder and Cancer.
Berge W, Mundt K, Luu H, Boffetta P. Genital use of talc and risk of ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2018 May;27(3):248–57.
District Court, D. New Jersey. CHAKALOS v. JOHNSON & JOHNSON (3:14-cv-07079).
Emory TS, Maddox JC, Kradin RL. Malignant mesothelioma following repeated exposures to cosmetic talc: A case series of 75 patients. Am J Ind Med. 2020 Jun;63(6):484–9.
Environmental Working Group. Analysis: Talc-Based Cosmetics Test Positive for Asbestos.
Moline J, Bevilacqua K, Alexandri M, Gordon RE. Mesothelioma associated with the use of cosmetic talc. J Occup Environ Med. 2020 Jan;62(1):11–7.
The New York Times. Asbestos Found in Ten Powders.
The New York Times. What Is Talc, Where Is It Used and Why Is Asbestos a Concern?
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Tara Strand specializes in writing content about mesothelioma and asbestos. She focuses on topics like mesothelioma awareness, research, treatment, asbestos trust funds and other advocacy efforts.
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For more than two decades, Jennifer Lucarelli has served as Legal Advisor at Mesothelioma.com. She has advocated for more than 1,000 asbestos victims, securing millions in settlements and helping them access quality medical care.