Colgate-Palmolive – Asbestos & Talcum Powder Lawsuits

Key Information:

• Compensation: Injured consumers and their loved ones may be eligible to file asbestos lawsuits against Colgate-Palmolive. 
• Affected Products: The company produced several talc products, including Cashmere Bouquet Body Powder, Mennen Shave Talc, and Palmolive Talc for Men, that were potentially contaminated.
• Occupations: Personal users, beauty industry workers, and retail workers represent groups with a high risk of talc asbestos exposure.
• Get Help:Contact the Mesothelioma Fund to determine your eligibility for compensation and potential claim value. 

Colgate-Palmolive & Asbestos Exposure

In 1928, Colgate merged with Palmolive-Peet to form the Colgate-Palmolive-Peet Company, which eventually shortened its name to Colgate-Palmolive.

The company’s troubled relationship with asbestos dates back to before the merger, however, when Colgate trademarked its iconic Cashmere Bouquet line in 1872. Although exact dates are unavailable, there is documented evidence that Colgate added the talc-based Cashmere Bouquet Body Power to the product line as early as 1920. 

Cashmere Bouquet talc products, as well as other talc products under brands such as Palmolive and Mennen (acquired in 1992), were often heavily contaminated with asbestos. One survey conducted in 1976 found that products sold by Colgate-Palmolive contained 8% to 20% asbestos fibers.

Despite knowledge of the dangers and attempts at regulation, such as the voluntary guidelines issued by the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrances Association (CTFA) in 1976, Colgate-Palmolive talc products remained in stores until the mid 1990s. 

When consumers use asbestos-contaminated talc products, they create multiple exposure pathways, including skin contact during personal hygiene routines, dust inhalation, and secondary exposure to family members. 

Exposure to asbestos, even trace amounts, can cause serious health conditions, such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and ovarian cancer, often decades later.

Dangers of Asbestos-Contaminated Talc Products

Talc was a popular cosmetic ingredient due to its drying, smoothing properties, and silky texture. Unfortunately, safely mining talc without the risk of cross-contamination from asbestos is difficult, as the two minerals are generally found in close geological proximity.

The exposure patterns for consumers using asbestos-contaminated talc differ significantly from those in industrial asbestos exposure cases. Unlike the often intense but short-lived nature of industrial exposure, consumer exposure is typically characterized by chronic, low-dose contact from using contaminated products over the span of years or even decades.

Inhaling asbestos is hazardous and is a primary exposure pathway for both industrial and consumer exposure. However, skin contact is more common with consumer exposure patterns. The use of contaminated talc products on intimate areas is linked to ovarian cancer.

Most asbestos-related illnesses have long latency periods. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), mesothelioma, in particular, is often not diagnosed until 20 to 50 years after exposure.

Financial Compensation From Colgate-Palmolive

Colgate-Palmolive has not filed for bankruptcy, nor has it established an asbestos trust fund to compensate victims. Therefore, to seek damages for the harm caused to themselves or their loved ones, victims must file a civil court claim directly against the company.

Victims can pursue compensation through two primary types of lawsuits:

• ​​Personal injury lawsuit: Allows living victims of asbestos exposure to seek compensation for their losses.
• Wrongful death lawsuit: Allows the dependents or family members of deceased asbestos exposure victims to recover damages for the loss of their loved one.

Companies such as Colgate-Palmolive often opt to settle talc-related claims through out-of-court negotiations with victims and their legal representatives. These settlements provide victims with a faster path to compensation, avoiding the uncertainty and pressure of a full trial.

Successfully navigating the intricate nature of asbestos talc cases requires specialized legal expertise. Our partner law firm, Meirowitz & Wasserberg, offers decades of experience and industry-leading legal representation, providing services to clients with no up-front cost.

Asbestos Lawsuits Against Colgate-Palmolive

In the growing landscape of asbestos-contaminated talc cases, Colgate-Palmolive occupies a relatively small territory. The company has faced more than 170 asbestos talc lawsuits to date, far fewer than competitors like Johnson & Johnson, which has faced more than 90,000 asbestos talc lawsuits.

Much of the litigation against Colgate-Palmolive centers on the company’s failure to warn consumers about potential dangers of its products, product defects, and consumer harm. Like many talc manufacturers, Colgate-Palmolive chooses to settle many of these claims out of court, avoiding negative publicity and potentially high trial verdicts. 

Working with an experienced asbestos law firm is the best way to protect your right to compensation. Below are some examples of successful or ongoing claims against Colgate-Palmolive.  

2015

In 2015, a California jury awarded Judith Winkel $13 million in compensatory damages during her mesothelioma claim related to Cashmere Bouquet. 

This ruling was the first verdict against Colgate-Palmolive regarding asbestos exposure from its commercial talcum powder. The company and Winkel reached a confidential settlement before the jury could rule on punitive damages.

2017

A Pennsylvania woman named Carol Schoeniger, who used Colgate-Palmolive’s Cashmere Bouquet talcum powder for over 20 years, brought forward another case, claiming use of this product led to her mesothelioma diagnosis. Colgate-Palmolive agreed to a confidential settlement before the trial began.

2018

​​In 2018, 67-year-old Paul Garcia claimed that Colgate-Palmolive and its subsidiary, Mennen, failed to adequately warn consumers that its talc powder products contained asbestos and could cause cancer. Colgate-Palmolive denied Mr. Garcia’s claim that use of its products caused his mesothelioma, but agreed to an out-of-court settlement for an undisclosed amount.

2025

Quang Quach filed suit against Colgate-Palmolive in 2025 after being diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma at 43. Mr. Quach claims that exposure to Mennen’s Baby Magic talcum powder as an infant caused his illness. 

Colgate-Palmolive denies the claim, arguing that his illness stems from secondary exposure due to his father’s work as an auto mechanic. The case is not yet resolved.

Asbestos-Containing Products Used at Colgate-Palmolive

Colgate-Palmolive manufactured and sold numerous talc products throughout its history. However, not all of these products have been legally linked to asbestos exposure.

The following list identifies Colgate-Palmolive products that may have contained asbestos-contaminated talc, though it is not exhaustive. If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness after using a Colgate-Palmolive talc product not on this list, you should still seek legal advice.

Asbestos-contaminated talc products sold by Colgate-Palmolive include:

• Cashmere Bouquet Body Powder
• Cashmere Bouquet Dusting Powder
• Cashmere Bouquet Talcum Powder
• Mennen Baby Magic
• Mennen Shave Talc
• Palmolive Talc for Men

Occupations at Risk

Unlike most asbestos litigation, which focuses on industrial exposure, lawsuits concerning talc contamination center on consumer exposure. Nonetheless, consistent, long-term use of contaminated products, especially those used daily, can still lead to serious consumer illness.

High-risk groups and occupations include:

• Daily/long-term product users
• Retail/beauty workers 
• Family members (secondary exposure in shared bathrooms/households)

Get Help Today

From the 1920s to the mid-1990s, Colgate-Palmolive manufactured and sold talc products contaminated with asbestos. Despite being aware of the serious health risks associated with asbestos exposure, the company knowingly endangered consumers by continuing to sell these dangerous products.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, such as mesothelioma or ovarian cancer, due to exposure to Colgate-Palmolive products, you may be entitled to significant compensation through a talc lawsuit.

It is crucial to act quickly. The opportunity to seek compensation is limited by strict legal deadlines for filing claims against negligent talc companies like Colgate-Palmolive. Once the filing deadline passes, you lose the chance to pursue justice and financial relief.

The Mesothelioma Fund, in partnership with the experienced legal team at Meirowitz & Wasserberg, is ready to help you start your claim at no upfront cost. We have a proven track record of helping asbestos victims and their families secure justice and compensation. Let us fight for you, too.

Contact us now for a free case review to determine the potential value of your claim.

Written & Legally Reviewed By

Samuel Meirowitz Esq. Attorney and On-Site Legal Advocate

Samuel Meirowitz is a member of the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers.” Mr. Meirowitz was named a “Rising Star” in 2013 & 2014 by Super Lawyers and then a Super Lawyer every year since 2016. In 2013, Mr. Meirowitz obtained what is believed to be the first multi-million-dollar asbestos verdict seen in more than two decades in a New York federal court. In that highly contentious matter, Mr. Meirowitz was able to convince the jury to hold a boiler manufacturer responsible for 60 percent of the $3.8 million awarded, despite the defendant’s attempt to escape all blame by pointing fingers at the plaintiff’s employer and the U.S. Navy (in which the plaintiff admirably served from 1966-70 during the Vietnam conflict). This verdict was upheld by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Learn More