Kimberly-Clark Kotex · Tampons
Kimberly-Clark Consumer 53445 U by Kotex Tampon, Super Premium, Regular Absorbency, Click Compact, 16/pk, 8 pk/cs (US On
Lower concern. Core materials inherently PFAS-free, but brand provides no disclosure.
Tampons are primarily cotton and rayon, inherently low-PFAS materials. Kimberly-Clark has not publicly disclosed PFAS testing or claims on this product line.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
cotton/rayon core, plastic applicator, minimal coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
You may also be interested in
Top-graded picks in the categories readers replace first, every one scored on the same rubric.
Aqua Pure
3M Aqua-Pure AP802B Whole House Filter Housing
- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
What Kimberly-Clark Consumer 53445 U by Kotex is made of, ingredients and materials
U by Kotex tampons use a cotton-rayon blended absorbent core with a plastic (polystyrene) applicator and minimal adhesive coating. This material combination is standard across the industry and does not inherently leach harmful chemicals into body tissues during normal use. Rayon is a processed cellulose fiber, not a synthetic polymer that degrades or breaks down during brief vaginal contact. The plastic applicator is single-use and non-absorbent, minimizing surface-area exposure.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
Period care is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Dioxin residues from processing
Rayon is bleached during manufacture; residual dioxins are theoretically possible but testing is inconsistent across brands. U by Kotex has not been independently tested for this hazard in publicly available reports, and regulatory limits for tampons do not exist in the US.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
Fragrance allergens
U by Kotex Regular absorbency tampons in this pack are unscented, eliminating fragrance-allergen risk. Scented variants exist in the U by Kotex line but are not this product.
Microplastics
The polystyrene applicator is rigid and non-absorbent; it does not fragment during single-use insertion and removal. Risk of microplastic shedding into vaginal tissue is not established for conventional applicators.
Source, EPA ↗Talc contamination
U by Kotex tampons do not use talc as a lubricant or anti-stick agent; applicator lubrication (if present) is minimal and not documented as talc-based.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
The cardboard and plastic blister packaging do not require formaldehyde-releasing binders for this product type. Off-gassing from packaging during storage is not a documented concern.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Kimberly-Clark has faced no major recalls or chemical contamination incidents specific to U by Kotex tampons in the US market. The brand does not publicly disclose detailed ingredient or material sourcing practices, nor does it hold certifications like Organic or Cradle-to-Cradle for this product line. Industry scrutiny of period-care products has intensified around PFAS and dioxin residues, but U by Kotex has not been flagged in independent testing reports to date.
How it compares in its category
U by Kotex occupies the mainstream mass-market segment, affordable, widely available, and unbranded as 'natural' or 'organic' (unlike brands marketed as hypoallergenic or chlorine-free alternatives). Material-wise, it is typical of conventional tampons, using the same cotton-rayon-plastic formula as competitors like Tampax and Kotex Sport. Organic or specialty brands (Cora, Seventh Generation, Rael) often promote non-bleached, unbleached, or chlorine-free processing, though practical safety differences are not well-documented in peer review.
If you buy it
Insert and remove per package instructions; do not leave in longer than 8 hours to reduce toxic shock syndrome risk (standard for all tampons). Plastic applicators are not flushable; discard in trash. If any signs of irritation, unusual odor, or allergic reaction occur, switch products and consult a healthcare provider. Store in a dry place; the product has no heat or humidity sensitivities that affect safety during normal use or storage.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Kimberly-Clark Kotex has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Tampons
Natracare
100% Organic Cotton Tampons
- 100% organic cotton
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Heavy metals
Natracare
Organic Super Plus Tampons, 3 x 20 ct
- organic cotton, cardboard applicator
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Dioxins from bleaching
Natracare
Organic Cotton Super Plus Tampons
- organic cotton, no added fluorochemicals
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Verified PFAS-free by a third party
More tampons grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.