US EditionSouth Africa probes sanitary products suppliers after study flags health risks
A study found endocrine-disrupting chemicals in up to 100% of tested menstrual products, prompting a probe that may lead to recalls, officials said.
- On Monday, the National Consumer Commission opened an investigation into nine suppliers of sanitary pads and tampons, saying the probe could take six months and asked for recent test results.
- The academic paper reported EDC detection frequencies of 75%–100% in liners and 50%–100% in pads, published last week in Science of the Total Environment.
- Tests showed chemicals appeared in small amounts, but researchers said repeated exposure over a lifetime may increase risks like fertility impairment and certain cancers, with some chemicals migrating from plastics or adhesives even in products marketed as 'free from harmful chemicals'.
- Authorities signalled the probe could lead to major recalls as Parliament welcomed it and political parties and women’s advocacy groups demanded accountability, while manufacturers and suppliers remain silent.
- The inquiry targets major multinationals and local firms including Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, Premier Group , Kimberly‑Clark South Africa, Essity Hygiene and Health AB, My Time, and Anna Organics, with some distributing products across North America, Europe, Kenya, Nigeria, and Pakistan.
12 Articles
12 Articles
The menstrual standoff in South Africa: What do we do now?
Anxiety, anger, hopelessness are among the emotions women have expressed after a University of the Free State study showed that some sanitary products sold in South Africa contain hormone-disrupting chemicals, including those marketed as free from harmful chemicals. It found that every single pad and pantyliner contained at least two of three endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) substances. Although detected in low concentrations, researchers wa…
Associated Press News
South Africa probes sanitary products suppliers after study flags health risks
South Africa’s consumer watchdog is investigating nine sanitary pad suppliers after an academic study flagged hormone-disrupting chemicals in some products.
South Africa: Major Public Concern Over Safety of Menstrual Products Sold in South Africa
[Health-e] Menstrual products have been at the centre of online conversations this past week, after a study by researchers from the University of the Free State (UFS) found chemicals in 16 brands of pads and eight types of pantyliners sold locally.
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