U by Kotex Tampons Recalled by Manufacturer

Paper products manufacturer Kimberly-Clark recently issued a recall for its U by Kotex Tampons, Regular Absorbency. The company has received complaints from women who claim the product came unraveled when it was removed, leaving pieces of the product behind.

The U by Kotex Tampons Recall

Kimberly-Clark announced the recall on Dec. 11, 2018. Specifically, the Kotex tampon recall applies to lots of U by Kotex Sleek Tampons manufactured and sold in Canada and the U.S. over a 24-month period between Oct. 7, 2016 and Oct. 23, 2018. They have stated that the U by Kotex Tampons have been recalled due to a “quality-related defect,” but have given few details beyond that.

In a company press release, the U by Kotex Tampons manufacturer said consumers for whom the product came apart during attempts at removal had to seek medical treatment in order to “remove tampon pieces left in the body.” In some cases, this has reportedly led to vaginal irritation and infection, abdominal pain and even injuries.

A Dangerous Product?

Like prescription drugs and medical devices, tampons must go through review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before they are allowed onto the market. In some cases, a manufacturer can get FDA approval if it can be demonstrated that the new product is “substantially equivalent” to a “predicate,” or similar product already approved and on the market. This is known as 510(k) Premarket Notification, and it allows a manufacturer to bypass normally stringent testing requirements.

In the early 1980s, tampons made the news because of women who developed “toxic shock syndrome.” This is actually a complication due to bacterial infections, specifically those that cause staph (staphylococcus aureus) and strep (streptococcus). Although uncommon, toxic shock syndrome can be serious, and even fatal.

Protecting Yourself

The FDA recommends that tampons be used only during menstruation and that they be changed at least once every eight hours. Proper hygiene is also important for avoiding infections.

Kimberly-Clark has stated that “the safety of our consumers is out top priority,” and assures its customers that they are “putting systems in place to prevent the occurrence of similar issues in the future.”

It should be noted that the current recall affects only Regular Absorbency U by Kotex tampons. The Super Absorbency and Super Plus Absorbency have not been subject to the recall.

Is a U by Kotex Tampons Lawsuit in the Future?

Currently, a number of law firms are investigating the circumstances that have led to the recall of U by Kotex tampons in order to determine if negligence was involved. Women who suffered injuries as a result of using U by Kotex tampons purchased during the time in question may qualify to join a class action lawsuit investigation.

Join a Free U by Kotex Sleek Tampons Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you purchased U by Kotex Sleek Tampons, Regular Absorbency between October 2016 and October 2018 and the tampons unraveled upon removal or left pieces in your body, you may qualify to join this investigation.

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