I bet when you think about the words Feminine Hygiene you don’t think “Moldy Tampons.”
Well, neither did Danielle over at Parr For The Course. But to her surprise, that is exactly what she found when opening a new box of Kotex Tampons!! We’re not talking about an “emergency tampon” that has been buried in the bottom of your purse for who knows how long, this came “straight out of the box, in it’s sealed little packaging.”
As a public service announcement we thought we should share this story. You ought to be aware of the things you may be potentially putting in your body. Not only are you at risk of TSS with conventional tampons, but now you may need to be on the look out for MOLD! (Judging by Kotex’s comments this not an isolated incident.) So go ahead and pop over to Danielle’s blog to read her story along with Kotex’s reply.
As women, we have many “feminine hygiene” options. More options than most realize. We have the traditional products we are all familiar with “pads & tampons.” But today, we are fortunate to have additional options like organic/natural tampons and pads (products free of plastic and bleach) from great companies like Natracare & Maxim Hygiene, as well as menstrual cups like Softcup and DivaCup and cloth pads like Lunapads. There are lots of options, both disposable and reusable.
We challenge you to look into healthier products not only for your body, but also the environment. So before you say, “ewww…menstrual cups” or “ewww…cloth pads” or “ewww…tampons without applicators,” just think about how gross it would be to accidentally insert a moldy tampon! EWWW!!!
We’d love to hear your initial response to this news. Please comment below and tell us how this information may or may not change your thoughts on feminine hygiene.
UPDATE from Kotex: 3/28/12
“For those of you concerned about Kotex tampons…
We totally understand your concerns about this issue, and we take it very seriously. In the Kotex representative’s eagerness to get back to the concerned consumer’s e-mail right away, she unfortunately sent her incorrect information about the issue.
Nothing is more important to us than consumer safety. Any discoloration or abnormality with our tampons is extremely rare, and we want to do a full investigation to determine the source and follow-up with our manufacturing facility.
If you have any questions or concerns at all, please contact Consumer Services by email at http://www.kotex.com/na/contact-us or call us at 1-800-789-4495.”
UPDATE from Kotex: 3/30/12
“At Kotex quality and consumer safety is our priority. We are committed to, and are taking all necessary steps to get to the bottom of this; including hiring an independent testing facility to conduct a thorough investigation of the product in question. Any discoloration or abnormality with our tampons is extremely rare, and we believe this to be an isolated incident.”
Tara… Thank you so much for this info! I have never seen this ever…. now I am compelled to check each tampon before usage! YUCK! I’m really paranoid about this too!! What if… I used one? YUCK!!
I’m trying not to think about that. 🙁 I will make sure to look from now on when using tampons.
Thank you for sharing. This is so repulsive! Way ickier than dealing with a menstrual cup or cloth pad. The worst part is, how many of us actually inspect a tampon with an applicator before use? Scary!
Exactly – by design we don’t look at them before we put them in. That is scary!
Makes one seriously consider using non applicators or other options. Very scary!
That’s a good question Kelsie. How many have we already used like that?
Thank you for sharing this story. Hopefully raising awareness of the possible dangers associated with tampon use will trigger women to re-evaluate their feminine hygiene use. This story truly grosses me out because it’s such an intimate product.
Thanks for visiting and sharing Alison. It is a good “eye opener.”
Disturbing!Nice to know there are options these days.
We have way more options, we just need help informing women there are more choices than the “old tradtional.”
This is HUGE! I normally buy kotex tampons but now I will for sure be changing my brand. Thank you so much for the knowledge and I am passing this along to my girlfriends!
Many Blessings,
Kimmy
Happy to share Kimmy. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help as you reconsider your options. 🙂
This almost made me pass out. Crazy.
I think many more women will be checking their tampons!
Is that Pearl Tampon?????
The blogger states it is a Kotex, not a Tampax.
I don’t use tampons, but this was so disgusting to read about. Thank you for making us aware of this.
Renee
Thanks for visiting Renee! Glad this doesn’t affect you.
Eww!! I use cloth pads, but never would I have thought to check a tampon for mold! How does that even happen? That’s disgusting =/ It makes the DivaCup look pretty amazing right now!
Wow, that is scary! My daughter is approaching the age of menstruation. I will be very careful about this. Thanks for the warning!
Blessings,
Lisa
After seeing this, I will NEVER use another tampon again. I’ve been using them from time to time when I’m going on a run because the Instead Softcup leaks sometimes when I’m jolting around, but I’d rather skip the run if necessary than put another tampon in. Ewww! *shiver*
Blessings,
~Rosann
OUTRAGED. So grossed out.
this is truly disgusting… I wonder if they ever thought of a clear applicator option… for those who like to use the tampons but are too grossed out by this so you can see the tampon before inserting… yuck
A clear applicator is a great idea Tamara, although it might be difficult for cardboard applicators. 🙁
(This comment may contain TMI for some people…sorry)
Kotex has been my preferred brand since I first started my period. Even the highest absorbancy tampax is too small. I’ve had heavy flow problems all my life and have to use a SuperPlus absorbancy tampon WITH an overnight maxi at all times during my flow. And even then I get leaks.
Divacups fill up too fast. I would spend my entire cycle in the restroom changing the thing. And a pad alone, even if its a cloth pad, isn’t enough protection, and I’ve never been able to get a non-applicator tampon deep enough…if I sneeze they fall out.
And the idea of inserting mold is very high on the creepy scale now.
Any suggestions on a safe alternative for someone with crazy flow problems like mine?
In the meantime, despite this I’ll stick with kotex. They haven’t killed me so far……
No such thing as TMI when talking about periods at Be Prepared Period Nona. 😉
I’m sorry to hear you’ve had a challenging time finding products to help with your heavy flow. I’m very surprised to hear you say the DivaCups fill up too fast since their capacity holds twice that of a typical Super Plus tampon. We’re happy to help discuss some tips if you’d like to message us at info@www.bepreparedperiod.com. Would love to help you find a healthy way to help you manage your periods better!
My initial response? I’m glad I switched to a menstrual cup two months ago. I hope I never used a moldy tampon when I still used them.
Question/General Statement: We aren’t sure what is causing this mold, so unless you buy tampons without applicators, how do you know that organic tampons with applicators are free of mold as well? I don’t think there would be as much of a difference in the mold aspect. But I get that they are healthier and better for the environment.
You are right Cam, non-applicator tampons are the easiest way to see if there is a mold issue with any tampon. One of the bonuses to some of these organic manufacturers are that they offer these product options.
Ewwwww this is my brand. I may have used one like that. How many are unreported because no one looks at it before inserting. I’m gonna have to take the box i have and remove the applicators to make sure there safe. Thank you for sharing this.
I never really researched how terrible tampons really were for you…..this was a very eye opening website and makes me really want to change my ways to a more natural and economy conscious path. I will be using one of these soon!!
My first experience with Kotex was with the Kotex Stick tampons, those were the best product you could have hoped for for comfort, and the environment. Kotex used to make a great product that you could depend on every month, and unlike Tampax, the price was one of the lowest of all the name brands.