As always, Rudolph delivers the line with a certain endearing something to force a giggle from even the most straight-faced critic. Only the most discerning of consumers would ask the obvious and necessary questions: Do other tampon manufacturers use chlorine? What chemicals does Seventh Generation use in processing?
Though tampon companies formerly used chlorine gas to bleach the rayon used in tampons, the method was abandoned in the nineties to reduce dioxin compounds thought to be potentially harmful. All brands now use either elemental chlorine-free (ECF) bleaching without chlorine gas, or totally chlorine-free (TCF) bleaching agents. Far from chemical-free, Seventh Generation uses chemical compound hydrogen peroxide as a bleaching agent in its TCF process.
As scientist and communicator Dr. Layla Katiraee notes at her blog, there have been over 1300 studies done on the safety of feminine care products, and none of these have raised concern with doctors or the Food and Drug Administration. In other words, companies like Seventh Generation are creating an issue out of a non-issue to sell pricey tampons and pads.
All menstrual tampons and pads are subject to FDA regulation and are safe when used as directed. Fragrances do not contribute to the absorbent function of menstrual tampons or pads. Chemicals containing chlorine bleach are used in the manufacturing of the peel strip of our feminine care pads and pantiliners as well as the manufacturing of the outer layer of our tampon applicators and wrappers.
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