Avon Products Inc., once a powerhouse in direct sales, known for its army of door-to-door saleswomen, is filing for bankruptcy amid numerous lawsuits alleging that talcum powder in its products causes cancer. Avon Products, the US-based “non-operational” holding company that markets the brand's products overseas, is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to address its debt and legacy talc liabilities, the company announced in a press release.The beauty brand uses talc, a mineral that has been linked to cancer, in face powders and eye shadows. In recent years, approximately 200 lawsuits have been filed against Avon, accusing the company of selling talc products contaminated with asbestos, another known carcinogen.John Dubel, chair of Avon Products, stated that the bankruptcy filing “will maximize the value of our assets and enable us to address our obligations in an orderly manner.” Avon CEO Kristof Neirynck, who took over earlier this year, added, "We remain focused on advancing our business strategy internationally, modernizing our direct selling model, and reigniting the brand to accelerate growth."In December 2022, a Los Angeles jury ordered Avon to pay more than $50 million to an Arizona woman who was diagnosed with cancer after using cosmetic products containing asbestos-tainted talc. Last month, a Chicago-area man, who worked as a janitor at an Avon manufacturing plant in Illinois, was awarded $24.4 million by a jury after being diagnosed with mesothelioma.These verdicts followed a $6.5 billion settlement earlier this year by pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson over claims that its talc-based baby powder was responsible for ovarian cancer diagnoses.