Shamita Basu

Hey there, it's Shamita here.

I am now out on parental leave.

And Sam Sanders, the award-winning podcast and radio host, will be taking over the host chair for a bit while I'm gone.

You'll hear him starting next week.

But in the meantime, here's an episode from our archives that really stuck with me.

It's a massive investigation that exposes a lot about health care, government oversight, and accountability in America.

I hope you enjoy it.

This is In Conversation from Apple News.

I'm Shmeeta Basu.

Today, the dark secrets of Johnson & Johnson.

This is a 1976 ad for Johnson's baby powder.

And baby powder was its most iconic product.

That's investigative journalist Gardner Harris.

As it would turn out, J&J's talc-based baby powder was contaminated with asbestos, a dangerous mineral that can cause cancer.

And that wasn't the only product that the company found to have major issues.

Gardner has covered public health and the pharmaceutical industry for decades at The Wall Street Journal and at The New York Times.

His investigations have led to major reforms in the healthcare industry.

And his latest book, which he spent five years investigating, is out April 8th and could send shockwaves through the industry once again.

It's called No More Tears, The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson.

In his book, Gardner says, quote, J&J has knowingly contributed to the deaths and grievous injuries of millions.