Moldy Tampon Found By Blogger, Kotex Responds
Just because your tampons come in individual packaging does not mean that your feminine hygiene products are clean, or, rather, free from mold. A blogger discovered just this when she found a moldy tampon in a package of Kotex earlier this week.
Danielle Parr, a mommy blogger on Parr to the Course, posted on Tuesday that she had been shocked to discover a moldy tampon in a brand new package of Kotex Tampons.
Parr says that she normally does not check her tampons, but this one popped out of the applicator as she was opening the packaging. It was then that she noticed that the tampon was covered in splotches of black mold.
Snapping some pictures of the moldy tampon, Parr emailed Kotex about the problem. Surprised by the moldy tampon in the first place, she was even more surprised by Kotex’s reply.
After apologizing for the moldy tampon, a customer service representative at Kimberly-Clark Corp., the company that owns the Kotex brand, wrote:
“We understand how distressing it can be to find mold on a product that is used for personal hygiene and apologize for your concern. In instances where it has been found, we conducted tests on the product involved and have found the mold to be a common environmental species that carries no health risk. The vegetative mold is similar in nature to mold on vegetables or in baked goods.”
The email then goes on to state that Kotex is diligently reviewing their manufacturing process to make sure the moldy tampon problem does reoccur in the future. Finally, the email informs Parr that she would be receiving some coupons for Kotex products in the mail.
Parr was understandably disassatified with Kotex’s response. As she wrote on her blog:
“Yeah, that’s real reassuring. I was grossed out in the first place and their response just makes it worse! Seems this is a fairly common problem … and that is a cause for serious concern. I doubt most people get as lucky as I did – I just so happened to accidentally expose the mold and I am so glad that I did! Most people wouldn’t be so fortunate. “
After Parr’s blog post went viral, an account executive at Kimberly-Clarke Corp. reached out to her. The account executive apologized for the content of the original email, stating that the information that Parr had been told was incorrect. The second email then continues:
“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. So if you still have the tampon, can you please return it to us by using the prepaid mailing envelope we’re sending you?”
The account executive again ends the email by stating that Kimberly-Clarke Corp. will work to ensure that a moldy tampon does not find its way into another box of Kotex in the future.
Does the news that a woman found a moldy tampon in a brand new box of tampons have you reconsidering your choice of feminine hygiene products?
Tags : bloggers, Kimberly-Clark, kotex, mold, moldy tampon, mommy bloggers, tampons
Posted: March 28, 2012
![Taylor Swift’s Disgusted Reaction To Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez Kiss Goes Viral [Video]](http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Watch-Justin-Bieber-And-Selena-Gomez-Backstage-Kiss-The-Taylor-Swift-Diss-Video-100x100.jpg)
![‘Brady Bunch’ Reunion Takes Place At Kings Island [Video]](http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Brady-Bunch-Reunion-100x100.jpg)
![‘Ugly Baby’ Jab On ‘Footy Show’ Angers Parents [Video]](http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/ugly-baby-100x100.jpg)
Mar 28, 2012
Love cups and cloth pads! No worries about mold here!
Mar 29, 2012
Ladies find yourself a cup, you will thank yourself.
Mar 29, 2012
oh my gosh….eeeewww
Mar 29, 2012
Ok where did you get the cup?
Mar 29, 2012
What an awful thing to have happen. Kudos to Danielle for going public about it. Just as upsetting as the fact that she found mold in a tampon is the company's response to her. But there are other little-known risks associated with these synthetic disposable menstrual products. One risk — still! — is Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS).
I recently interviewed a survivor of this deadly disease — Suzan Hutchinson — for Keeper.com, the website of The Keeper and Moon Cup reusable menstrual cups. Susan is now a spokesperson for You-ARE-loved.org, an organization dedicated to educating women about the fact that Toxic Shock is still a threat, especially to younger women.
There are other options out there that women can use. One is reusable menstrual cups; another is reusable cotton menstrual pads. Both are also environment-friendly and pocketbook-friendly, because they are not tossed away after a single use. And as far as I know, there have been no cases of MOLD associated with either one of these options.
To listen to the interview with Suzan, please go to keeper.com/hutchinson.html.
Thanks so much.
Julia Schopick
Marketing Director
The Keeper, Inc.
Mar 29, 2012
makes me glad I don't use them
Mar 29, 2012
Diva cup all the way.
Mar 29, 2012
Kotex's callousness – until exposed by the viral blog post – is unacceptable.
Maybe their lab concluded that the mold was a "common" one that was "harmless." That doesn't mean it's universally harmless. There's a reason why "sanitary" is to be truly sanitary: not everyone's immune system works the same way.
What might be nothing to another person could be a cause for anaphylactic shock in another because they have an allergic response to that chemical/organism.
Thank goodness we live in an age where it's much easier for the everyday person to be heard!
Mar 30, 2012
sharing
Mar 30, 2012
Notice how Kotex's second response was to call it "discoloration"- HOW SNAKEY!
Apr 4, 2012
It should have been reported to FDA
Apr 4, 2012
Joan Poulton Studeny I think that she sent it to an independent lab for testing, and contacted the FDA.. I am not positive since the thread on my forum about it got moved to a private area, and I am off the boards for lent.