Berkley Jensen · Incontinence Pads & Protection
Berkley Jensen Incontinence and Post Partum Bladder Control Pad
Skip until manufacturer discloses waterproof coating composition.
Berkley Jensen incontinence pads use an unspecified waterproof backing, a common location for PFAS in absorbent hygiene products. Brand has not disclosed coating materials or made any PFAS claims.
The better-graded swap
Tranquility
Tranquility Personal Care Pads
70/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Good.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
absorbent core with unspecified waterproof backing layer
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Berkley Jensen Incontinence Control Pad is made of, ingredients and materials
Incontinence pads combine an absorbent core (typically wood pulp, superabsorbent polymers like sodium polyacrylate) with a waterproof backing layer. The backing's composition is the critical unknown here, it may be polyethylene, polypropylene, or a synthetic material with Teflon-type coating or fluorinated coatings to repel moisture. Since Berkley Jensen/Lillian does not publicly disclose this backing chemistry, you cannot verify whether PFAS or other synthetic water-repellent chemicals are present. This matters because the backing sits directly against skin for extended periods.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
The unspecified waterproof backing may contain plasticizers, adhesives, or synthetic water-repellent compounds other than PFAS. Prolonged skin contact with undisclosed coating chemistry poses a risk, especially for post-partum users with compromised skin barriers.
Source, ATSDR ↗Superabsorbent polymer (SAP) skin irritation
Sodium polyacrylate cores can cause contact dermatitis or microabrasion if the pad is worn too long or if the user has sensitive skin. Post-partum and incontinent populations are at higher risk. No specific allergen data for this brand's SAP formulation is publicly available.
Adhesive and fastening chemical exposure
Incontinence pad adhesives and elastic fasteners often contain acrylates, rubber compounds, or other tackifiers. Lillian does not disclose adhesive chemistry, creating uncertainty about potential skin sensitizers.
What’s reassuring
Microplastic or fragmentation risk from degraded backing
No documented cases of backing fragmentation or microplastic shedding in this product. However, poor disclosure of backing material durability makes it difficult to assess long-term integrity or shedding risk with extended wear.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Incontinence pads do not typically use formaldehyde-based binders, but resin-based adhesives in the fastening system could theoretically contain trace formaldehyde. No reported cases for this brand.
Source, ATSDR ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Lillian (the parent brand of Berkley Jensen) has no published safety certifications, material disclosure statements, or formal PFAS policy on record. The manufacturer has not responded to public inquiries about waterproof coating composition, which is a red flag for a product marketed for sensitive post-partum and incontinent skin. No recalls specific to this product line have been documented, but the absence of transparency is itself a disclosure failure.
How it compares in its category
Many incontinence pad brands (Depend, Always Discreet, Poise) now disclose their use of polyethylene or polypropylene backings without fluorinated additives, and some third-party certifications exist (e.g., dermatologist-tested claims). Berkley Jensen's silence puts it below market transparency standards. Budget incontinence pads often cut costs by using unspecified adhesives and backings, which increases the risk of undisclosed chemical content.
If you buy it
Do a 24-48 hour skin patch test on a non-sensitive area before regular use, especially post-partum when skin is compromised. Replace pads immediately if worn (do not extend wear time beyond package guidance) to minimize skin exposure and reduce any leaching risk. Store in a cool, dry place away from heat sources, as warmth can increase migration of chemicals from adhesives or backing into skin contact. If skin irritation, rash, or odor develops, discontinue and consider brands with transparent backing composition.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Berkley Jensen has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Berkley Jensen Incontinence and Post Partum Bladder Control Pad?
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2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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- Azo dyes and synthetic colorants
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
More incontinence pads & protection 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.