Tampax and Always, among other tampon brands, are being recalled in France and Canada. A new investigation found that they contain toxic chemicals, insecticides included.
A number of tampon products tested by French magazine 60 Millions de Consommateurs were found to have harmful chemicals in them, such as dioxins and insecticides, including Tampax and Always. Traces of glyphosate were also found in Italian manufacturer Corman's Organyc brand of pantyliner. Glyphosate is a pesticide found in Monsanto's Roundup weedkiller.
The French magazine clarified that the traces are only small, and may probably not have negative effects on the users. However, these chemicals normally can damage a person's immune system. Corman also conducted its own tests and found the same. To be sure, the company recalled 3,100 boxes of sanitary towels in France and Canada. "We don't think it is dangerous, it's simply a precautionary measure, because our priority is the safety and health of our consumers," a Corman spokeswoman told AFP.
Procter & Gamble, the company behind both Tampax and Always brands, insisted its products had been "proven to be harmless", AFP reported.
Johnson & Johnson, which is currently dealing with a huge blow over losing a court case, also have several tampon products listed in the report: Nett and O.B Tampons. A spokesman for the company said "only materials respecting all the safety criteria" were used in these tampons. The company just lost a case and ordered to pay $72 million in damages to the family of Jackie Fox, an Alabama woman who passed away due to ovarian cancer. Allegedly, the cancer was largely caused by Jackie's use of the company's baby powder and other products containing talc for feminine hygiene.
As a result of the findings of the investigation over the tampons' toxicity , more than 180,000 signed a petition to make tampon companies detail the list of materials and chemicals they used in the products in the packaging.