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Period Activists Want Tampon Makers to Disclose Ingredients

May 24, 2017

Have you ever wondered what chemicals and other ingredients are in your tampons?

The answer typically is not on the label. Unlike candy bars, frozen dinners and eye shadow, tampons and menstrual pads are not required to carry a list of ingredients.

Instead, many tampon makers give a suggested ingredient list saying their product "may" contain cotton or rayon or polyester, or possibly a combination of them. And many sanitary pads, don't list any ingredients at all on the package, though companies may offer information on their websites, noting that the pads contain materials like "absorbent wood cellulose" and polyolefin, a chemical compound.

Now a vocal group of health activists focused on "menstrual equity" are calling for new rules to force companies to disclose the chemicals and materials used to manufacture feminine care products.