Jeepers creepers. With even things as seemingly innocent as cantaloupe turning out to be dangerous lately, you’d think a girl could at least have her period in peace and safety. Alas, no.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is recalling two lots of Kotex tampons that could be contaminated with a bacteria that causes vaginal infections. The recall, manufacturer Kimberly-Clark says, is “limited to two product SKUs (carton codes), 15063 (18 count) and 15068 (36 count),” (link for specifics).
A bacterium called Enterobacter sakazakii was in a raw material the tampons were manufactured with, and that it could cause vaginal infections, UTIs, pelvic inflammatory disease or potentially life-threatening infections. Women with serious existing illnesses, cancer or immune-compromised conditions, such as HIV, are at increased risk. There is limited evidence of transfer between individuals with this bacterium.
The impacted product includes both 18-count and 36-count packages of the Kotex Natural Balance* Security® Unscented Tampons Regular Absorbency that were shipped to retail customers between Oct. 29, 2011 and Nov. 2, 2011 in specific Walmart stores in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas; specific Fry's stores in Arizona; and specific Smith's stores in Utah and Arizona.
And before you ask, yeah, we saw the Colbert Report on the vodka tampons, too and no, we do not think they can be decontaminated that way.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is recalling two lots of Kotex tampons that could be contaminated with a bacteria that causes vaginal infections. The recall, manufacturer Kimberly-Clark says, is “limited to two product SKUs (carton codes), 15063 (18 count) and 15068 (36 count),” (link for specifics).
A bacterium called Enterobacter sakazakii was in a raw material the tampons were manufactured with, and that it could cause vaginal infections, UTIs, pelvic inflammatory disease or potentially life-threatening infections. Women with serious existing illnesses, cancer or immune-compromised conditions, such as HIV, are at increased risk. There is limited evidence of transfer between individuals with this bacterium.
The impacted product includes both 18-count and 36-count packages of the Kotex Natural Balance* Security® Unscented Tampons Regular Absorbency that were shipped to retail customers between Oct. 29, 2011 and Nov. 2, 2011 in specific Walmart stores in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas; specific Fry's stores in Arizona; and specific Smith's stores in Utah and Arizona.
And before you ask, yeah, we saw the Colbert Report on the vodka tampons, too and no, we do not think they can be decontaminated that way.
this is horrifying. another reason to switch to a reusable menstrual cup! i love my mooncup.