Kotex Tampon Recall Issued Due to Infection Risk
By: Staff Writers | Published: November 15th, 2011
Concerns over potential bacterial contamination that could cause dangerous infections have led to a recall of about 1,400 cases of Kotex tampons.
A Kotex Natural Balance tampons recall was announced last week by the FDA and Kimberly-Clark, the manufacturer. The recall came following tests by the company that detected the bacterium Enterobacter sakazakii in raw ingredients used to manufacture the tampons.
The bacteria could cause infections that may lead to a number of health risks, including vaginal infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs), pelvic inflammatory disease and other, potentially life-threatening, illnesses.
Kimberly-Clark warned that the risk was heightened for women who suffer from an existing illness, including cancer and diseases like HIV that compromise the immune system. However, there have been no illnesses linked to the contaminated tampons.
The tampon recall affects 14 lots of 18-count and 32-count boxes of Kotex Natural Balance Security Unscented Tampons Regular Absorbency shipped between October 29, 2011 and November 2, 2011. The 18-count boxes have an SKU code of 15063 and the 36-count boxes have an SKU code of 15068. These are the last five digits of the barcode found on the bottom of the package.
The recalled tampons were sold at Wal-Mart stores in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas, as well as at some Fry’s stores in Arizona and Smith’s stores in Utah and Arizona.
The FDA and Kimberly-Clark recommend that consumers who have the affected tampons stop using them immediately. The company is asking consumers who have the tampons to call Kimberly-Clark’s Consumer Services Division at (800) 335-6839 to make arrangements to retrieve the products. Consumers can also get more information at www.kimberly-clark.com and www.kotex.com.
Comment by Lori on 15 November 2011:
I JUST purchase a box last night at our local Walmart. I checked the SKU on the recall & compared it with the box I have & no match BUT that does not put my mind at ease! After reading information about this particular bacteria, I hope Kimberly Clarke proactively tested EVERY product manufactured & shipped from the facility that the bacteria originated. Has it been isolated? Where did the contaminated source originate? KOTEX is the only brand I have ever used & now I am extremely concerned since I HAVE already used a number of tampons from this new box.
Comment by Deonne on 15 November 2011:
I purchased a box of contaminated Kotex tampons and I and extremely upset. I began using the tampons in October.When I began using the tampons, I had usually pain. I just thought it was cramps. The pain still continues as of today. Today I heard of the recall and I and upset and very scared at what may be wrong with me. I contacted a doctor but what should I do now?
Comment by mimi on 15 November 2011:
I was JUST relesed from the hosptial AGAIN last night, for having an infection that was to painful i couldnt handle. This is the second time this week i had to return because i couldnt handle the pain and discomfort of it all. I was told I had PID and we couldnt come across a reason why. I have been suffering for the past week from this, it has caused me to be stuck in bed in the fetal postion for hours on end, i havent been able to eat hardley anything. I am VERY upset about all this, I have ALWAYS uses kotex ovr any other brand, and For this to happen just makes me very angry. I live in arizona, and i bought my box of Kotex regular and super plus, at Frys food stores.
Comment by Rachele on 15 November 2011:
My mom warned me about this today. I have had blood infections in the past, and of course this is the brand of tampons that I use. I was really relieved when I found out that the shipment the tampons I bought were in, did not have either bar code. Also, it does not show that any of the affected batches were sent to New Hampshire WalMarts, where I purchased mine.
Comment by Athina on 15 November 2011:
I purchased my Tampons from Target, which is not on the list of stores at Kotex’s website. Also, I would like to add that I purchased these tampons somewhere around the 14th of October, and the Kotex website says they were shipped to stores between October 29th, and November 2, 2011. This means that they do not have this situation under control because I bought mine before the supposed “shipping date” My SKU# is one of the boxes that has been contaminated. Also, I was in the hospital while using these tampons, because I could not stop throwing up, and the doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. After I stopped using the product, because my menstrual cycle ended, my symptoms seemed to stop. I just ended my menstrual cycle again, and am having the same problems as last month. I have pain in my abdomen, chills, mild fever, nausea, and diarrhea. I’ve already made a doctors appointment, to find out what is going on, but I have a very good feeling that it has something to do with these tampons. Kimberly Clark has asked that I return the product to them, and I declined. I decided to hold on to them so that if I have a case against them, I can have them tested for the bacteria.
Comment by Jesse on 15 November 2011:
It’s refreshing to see a company, in this case Kimberly-Clark stepping up and doing the right thing by ordering a recall and providing help. If this had been left to the FDA nothing would’ve gotten done. Just think about the listeria outbreak. The cantaloupes took 48 days for a recall to be ordered after the first person fell ill. Their ineffiecny outweighs any good the FDA does.
Comment by ceaira on 16 November 2011:
I have recently been diagnosed with vagonitis and they said that it could be from the tampons that I was using I was using the kotex 18 cnt. The ski is 15083
,
Comment by Lyndsay E on 22 November 2011:
I bought a box and IT HAS the recall number on it!!! UGH!!!
Comment by Melissa on 27 November 2011:
I used Kotex U Click tampons and ended up in the hospital, I dont think it was just the natural balance.
Comment by MELISSA on 23 December 2011:
OMG I WAS JUST ON WAQL MART SITE ONLY TO HELP MY SISTER W/PROBLEM SHE HAD W/CELL PHONE PROBLEM AND LONG AND BEHOLD I SEE RECALL PRODUCTS THINKING MAYBBE HER PHONE CELL WAS FOR RECALL AND I SEE KOTEX/RECALL WTF I AM DIABETIC AND HAVE HAD THESE SYMPTOMS AROUND OCT, BUT I DIDNT THINK NOTHING OF IT CUZ OF MY DIABITES AND COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE D….. TAMPONS WOW IS’NT THIS A BI…. AND LIKE ONE F THE ABOVE ATHINA THT IT WOULD STOP WHEN SHE DIDNT USE THEM TILL NEXT MENASTRATAL CYCLE BEGAIN AGIAN. WELL THSTS THE SME HERE. BUT TO LET YOU ALL KMOW ITS NOT JUST THE TAMPONS AND NOT JUST THOSE SKU# ITS ALSO THE ULTRA THIN 22 COUNT KOTEX SECUIRTY PADS. SO I THINK THIS KOTEX MANUFACTURING COMPANT BETTER DO SOME MORE INVESTING CAUSE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEES BROADCASTED OVER THE NEWWS AND POSTED ON WALMART AND WARNING BY THE KOTEX SHELFS. THTS IF THEY WANT TO STAY IN BUISNESS CUASE I AM LOOKING INTO HOW WHERE WHEN AND MY DOCTOR FOR FURTHER PROCEDURES TRUST AND BETTER BELIEVE.
YOURS TRUELY ONE PISSED OFF COSTURMETR
Comment by MELISSA on 23 December 2011:
oopps for a few minor misspells
Comment by Liz on 29 December 2011:
I also used kotex u and got sent to the hospital. Anyone going to get a lawyer here? I am.
Comment by jen on 9 September 2012:
Ive also used Kotex U and got a bad infection. First time I ever used anything but Tampax….