By KT Reporter
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has dismissed claims circulating on social media suggesting that shining light through a sanitary pad can determine whether it is safe for use. This follows a series of viral TikTok videos in which users displayed different sanitary pad brands—including the popular Always brand—under light, claiming that the dark patches seen were signs of dangerous materials that could cause cancer or vaginal infections.
In one video, a user warned, “You will stop wearing Always Pads after seeing this,” while another alleged the presence of mould inside a brand-new pack, asking, “How the hell does this pass inspection, and how many are already on the shelves?” However, in response to a media inquiry, UNBS clarified that such tests are misleading and unscientific.
In an email response to URN, Sylvia Kirabo, the Principal Public Relations Officer at UNBS, said the bureau’s team conducted its own examination after purchasing two sanitary pad brands—Always and Softcare—to verify the claims. She explained that upon separating the layers of the pads, the Always brand was found to contain clusters of synthetic fibres, which appeared as dark spots when viewed under light. In contrast, the Softcare brand did not exhibit these fibre clusters, hence no dark patches were visible.
“The synthetic fibres seen in Always pads are not harmful but are meant to enhance continued absorption even when the absorbent filler is swollen with fluid,” Kirabo clarified. She added that UNBS has established standards for both disposable and reusable sanitary pads, outlining the parameters considered before such products are approved for the market.
According to these standards, the absorbent filler must be white or off-white, free from soluble colouring matter, and made of materials without harmful additives or scents. The top sheet must also be porous enough to allow fluid transfer. Performance tests include checking for leakage, absorbency rate, and moisture content, while additional examinations cover microbiological safety, packaging, and labelling.
UNBS also advised the public to store sanitary products in dry, well-ventilated areas, noting that mould typically develops when textiles or fibres are exposed to damp conditions, often producing a musty or earthy odour. “In the case of the sanitary pads examined, which appear to have been stored properly and do not exhibit such characteristics, mould presence cannot be confirmed through visual inspection alone.
Instead, microscopic analysis is required,” UNBS noted, citing ISO 16212:2017 — Cosmetics — Microbiology — Enumeration of Yeast and Moulds as the proper testing method. Meanwhile, Procter & Gamble (P&G), the manufacturer of Always Pads, has also issued a statement explaining the appearance of dark patches under light. “Those darker shades you see inside the pad when light shines through—that’s our absorbent core, made of fibres of different shapes and densities. The thicker the fibre, the more light it blocks,” the company said.
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