A popular talcum powder brand in Nigeria has been identified as a cause of ovarian cancer and the manufacturers fined $72 million (£51 million).

A jury in St Louis, Missouri, USA, ordered pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson to pay the hefty sum to the family of a woman who claimed her ovarian cancer was caused by the company’s talcum powder.

The jury “said the company had failed to warn users of the potential dangers despite concerns raised by the American Cancer Society in 1999,” The Telegraph of London reported this morning.

It added that “although many talcum powder manufacturers in the US have since switched to corn starch following the scare in the 90s, in Britain most still use talcum.”

According to the report, “Mrs Fox claimed she used two of the company’s talc-based products – Baby Powder and Shower to Shower – as feminine hygiene produces for more than 35 years before being diagnosed three years ago with ovarian cancer. She died last year of ovarian cancer.

“Johnson & Johnson was ordered pay the family of Jackie Fox $10 million in compensation and $62 million as a punitive award.”

The report said that Johnson & Johnson, the world’s largest health products manufacturer, is currently facing 1,200 lawsuits in the US from customers who claim they were not warned about the risks.

Investigations by News Express showed that Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder imported from Britain is very popular in Nigeria and is even widely recommended by medical doctors. At respected health institutions such as EKO Hospital, Lagos, and University College Hospital Ibadan, the controversial talcum powder is usually recommended for those undergoing radiotherapy for cancer.