100% Organic Cotton Tampons vs o b Tampons: which is safer?
Natracare 100% Organic Cotton Tampons is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
Natracare
100% Organic Cotton Tampons
PFAS grade
Excellent 100/100
Overall grade
Excellent 96/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 1
Material
100% organic cotton
Confidence
88%
PossibleHeavy metals in pigments or cotton processing
OB
o b Tampons
PFAS grade
Good 70/100
Overall grade
Poor 44/100
Verdict
Buy with care
Hazard flags
⚑ 3
Material
rayon or cotton absorbent core, plastic applicator
Confidence
72%
PossibleDioxins and furans from rayon processing
PossibleAllergic contact dermatitis from fibers or dyes
LikelyToxic shock syndrome (TSS) from bacterial overgrowth
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Heavy metals in pigments or cotton processing on the Natracare and not on the OB.
- We flag Dioxins and furans from rayon processing, Allergic contact dermatitis from fibers or dyes and Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) from bacterial overgrowth on the OB and not on the Natracare.
- The Natracare is 100% organic cotton where the OB is rayon or cotton absorbent core, plastic applicator, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 30 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Natracare is the one to buy.
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 tampons, see the full ranking