Menstrual cups are the subject of a warning message published this Thursday by the Directorate General for Competition, Consumption and the Suppression of Fraud (DGCCRF). In 2019, the organization carried out a series of checks on feminine hygiene products and was particularly interested in “cups”. On its website, the DGCCRF mentions "a serious risk of toxic shock" linked to a lack of information for consumers.
# surveyDGCCRF
To guarantee the safety of their use, the DGCCRF checks feminine hygiene products. On the occasion of World Menstrual Hygiene Day: focus on the results of her survey on menstrual cups.
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After studying the products of 26 menstrual cup producers, the DGCCRF estimates that "user information is disparate from one brand to another and rarely conforms to all of the recommendations recommended". It is indeed recalled that "manufacturers must [...] provide clear and legible information to users to enable them to use their menstrual cups safely".
Problems in the times indicated
However, on the packaging of the references analyzed, "the wearing time indicated varies a lot (from 4 h to 12 h), night use is almost always indicated as possible, even recommended," says the report. Some brands take into account the risk linked to toxic shock syndrome, while others deny this risk and claim that the cuts are safe and have never been associated with this risk. ”
Thus, a third of menstrual cups do not mention the risk of toxic shock. Almost half also mention the possibility of wearing the device for more than 10 hours. The National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES) nevertheless estimates that the duration of use should not exceed 8 hours.
Findings taken into account by manufacturers
The DGCCRF reports, however, that the findings made during the inspections have been taken into account by many manufacturers. The latter became aware of "the importance of giving clear and complete information to users [...] sometimes even before a warning has been sent to professionals".
The "investigation did not reveal migration of chemical substances on the products analyzed", finally ensures the DGCCRF.
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