As a woman in America, it is disheartening to discover that our country is still failing to provide safe products for 50% of the nation, setting the precedent that companies can and should take advantage of women’s needs at the expense of their health.

For context, according to a study conducted at UC Berkeley in 2024, numerous tampon brands test positive for known cancer-causing metals, including lead, arsenic, and cadmium. Although commercial tampon brands have been present in society for nearly a century, this study was the first to measure the presence of such metals in tampons, and the impacts of these products on women’s health have only just begun to be analyzed. To address this major flaw in feminine hygiene products, the government must require these companies to include ingredient lists on their packaging. 

Currently, these companies are not required to print ingredient lists on their commodities because feminine hygiene products, such as tampons, pads, and menstrual cups, are classified as medical devices, which don’t require these labels. Despite states like New York and California implementing more stringent transparency laws on these products, the urgency of this issue has still not been nationally recognised. 

By mandating that companies include ingredient lists on menstrual products, America can help raise awareness of this issue, which can keep feminine product companies in check while also garnering enough public interest to allow for the ban of any ingredient proven harmful to women’s health.