U by Kotex Ultra Thin Pads vs Chlorine Free Maxi Pads: which is safer?
Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Maxi Pads is the clear pick. U by Kotex Ultra Thin Pads carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.
Kotex
U by Kotex Ultra Thin Pads
PFAS grade
Poor 25/100
Overall grade
Bad 17/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 2
Material
cellulose/rayon with proprietary absorbent core and waterproof barrier
Confidence
45%
PossibleWaterproof barrier coating (unspecified chemistry)
PossibleSkin sensitization from undisclosed additives
Our pick
Seventh Generation
Chlorine Free Maxi Pads
PFAS grade
Excellent 100/100
Overall grade
Excellent 96/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 1
Material
organic cotton, wood pulp
Confidence
78%
PossibleFragrance allergen content
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Waterproof barrier coating (unspecified chemistry) and Skin sensitization from undisclosed additives on the Kotex and not on the Seventh Generation.
- We flag Fragrance allergen content on the Seventh Generation and not on the Kotex.
- The Kotex is cellulose/rayon with proprietary absorbent core and waterproof barrier where the Seventh Generation is organic cotton, wood pulp, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 75 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Seventh Generation is the one to buy.
- We are less certain about the Kotex grade, at 45% confidence against 78%, because it discloses less.
Both products run through the same public rubric, which covers materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
More period pads, see the full ranking