7.JOHNSON & JOHNSON OBSTRUCTS JUSTICE 

     Prosecuting corporate crimes is a time-consuming process that relies heavily
     on corporate paper trails. Too often, corporate wrongdoers attempt to hide
     evidence of one crime by committing another -- destroying evidence. 

     Image-conscious Johnson & Johnson Company (J&J), maker of
     age-of-innocence products such as J&J baby powder and shampoo, lost its
     innocence in January 1995, when a company subsidiary pled guilty to
     destroying documents. 

http://www.ratical.org/corporations/mm10worst95.html#n7

------------

Attorneys General in 22 states have sued the
                  biggest contact lens companies-Bausch & Lomb,
                  Johnson & Johnson and Ciba Vision-for price
                  [fixing] conspiracy, contending that as many as 25
                  million consumers were overcharged $600 million
                  between 1989 and 1994. 
http://www.charm.net/~marc/chronicle/corp_crime.html
-------------
According to Lobbying Disclosure
                                        reports, in the first half of 1996,
                                        Johnson & Johnson has spent at least
                                        $1,070,000 lobbying Congress to
                                        weaken federal laws that protect
                                        consumers from dangerous products,
                                        that prevent illegal price-fixing of
                                        prescription drugs and that preserve
                                        clean air and clean water. 
Johnson & Johnson has spent
 more than $1 million attempting
 to influence the legislative
 process.

In the 1995-96 election cycle, Johnson
                                        & Johnson's corporate PAC made
                                        $326,819 in campaign contributions
                                        -$26,500 was contributed to Senate
                                        Republicans
                                        -$7,000 was contributed to Senate
                                        Democrats
                                        An additional $101,329 in campaign
                                        contributions was made by employees
                                        of Johnson & Johnson in the 1995-96
                                        elections, including:
                                        - $26,100 from officers of the company

http://www.citizen.org/orgs/public_citizen/congress/civjus/biomaterials/john.html

--------------------------------------
Johnson & Johnson in the McSpotlight

    | What's Wrong With Johnson & Johnson | Opposition & Campaigns | Company Profile |


            Janssen Pharaceutica is the manufacturer of Hismanal, a widely
            prescribed antihistamine which is also available over-the-counter in
            Malaysia. A report in The Lancet 29/8/92, stated that Hismanal may
            have adverse reactions such as heart problems when the
            recommended does is exceeded or when it interacts with other drugs.
            Since July 1992, Janssen has been required to warn US doctors of its
            potential dangers, but Malaysian doctors have not been informed. In
            the USA, 13 deaths and 95 heart problems associated with the drug
            have been reported to the FDA.

            McNeil was on a 1990 list submitted to the US Congress by the
            Generic Pharmaceutical Industry of companies accused of fraudulent
            and deceptive practices. It was accused of suppression of acute renal
            injury data associated with the use of Suprol (withdrawn in 1987),
            failure to disclose reports of severe/fatal renal damage with Flexin,
            Paraflex, and Triurate, and dismissal of researchers for refusing to
            withhold allergic reaction data on its analgesic Zomax (withdrawn
            1983).

            Johnson & Johnson is part of the pharmaceutical industry.

            It is not only the specific practices of individual companies that
            cause problems. The attitudes created by the currrent system of
            exploitation gives power and profits to the few, at the expense of
            people, animals and the environment. It is important to expose the
            unethical practices of specific companies as their behaviour is often
            indicative of the entire system. 





                       What's Wrong With ? 
               Irresponsible marketing

               In 1990, Johnson & Johnson were criticised for their marketing of Imodium
               anti-diarrhoea drops to children in Pakistan. According to J&J, the drops
               were given to 19 infants. :There were side effects as a result of serious
               overdosing in these cases and six of these children died." Johnson & Johnson
               withdrew the drops from the Pakistan in March 1990 and undertook to
               withdraw them in other Third World countries.


               [The Ethical Consumer Guide to Everyday ShoppingÊ published by the
               Ethical Consumer Research Association.]
               Abusing animals

               Johnson & Johnson was the fifth largest user of animals in test in 1988 and
               the ninth largest user of animals without anaesthetic in tests considered
               painful.


               [The Ethical Consumer Guide to Everyday ShoppingÊ published by the
               Ethical Consumer Research Association.]

   Credits and References: Most of the information in this section was taken from The Ethical
     Consumer Guide to Everyday ShoppingÊ published by the Ethical Consumer Research
                                 Association.Ê