Kimberly-Clark just announced a product recall of a limited number of its Kotex Natural Balance* Security® Unscented Tampons Regular Absorbency Tampons for a possible health risk, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just announced.
The recalled Kotex Tampons were distributed to specific stores in the United States and are limited to two product SKUs (carton codes): 15063 (18 count) and 15068 (36 count). Product SKU numbers 15063 and 15068 are the last five digits of the product’s barcode and are located on the bottom of the package; specific lot numbers can be found inside the red box located on the bottom of the package. Carton Lot numbers are AC129321X and AC129325X.
The defective Kotex tampons were manufactured with a raw material contaminated with the bacterium Enterobacter sakazakii, which may cause health risks, such as vaginal infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), or life-threatening infections. Women with serious existing illnesses; cancer; or who are immune-compromised, such as women diagnosed with HIV, are at increased risk.
Consumers should contact a physician immediately if they have used the impacted Kotex Natural Balance* Security® Unscented Tampons Regular Absorbency product and experience unusual vaginal discharge, rash, fever, headache, vomiting or abdominal pain, particularly if HIV positive; if they have AIDS, cancer, or another existing serious illness; or if they may be pregnant.
There is limited evidence of transfer of these reactions between individuals contaminated with this bacterium.
The impacted product includes both 18- and 36-count packages of the Kotex Natural Balance* Security ® Unscented Tampons Regular Absorbency shipped to retail customers between October 29, 2011 and November 2, 2011 and to specific Walmart stores in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Texas as well as to specific Fry’s in Arizona; and specific Smith’s in Utah and Arizona. Not all stores in these states were impacted and all involved stores have been alerted to remove the recalled Kotex Tampons from shelves.
A list of involved stores and the most current information on this recall can be accessed at Kimberly-Clark’s website at www.kimberly-clark.com and the Kotex website at www.kotex.com.
Consumers in possession of the recalled Kotex Natural Balance* Security® Unscented Tampons Regular Absorbency should stop using the product immediately and contact Kimberly-Clark’s Consumer Services Division, toll-free, at 1.800.335.6839 to make arrangements for product retrieval.
To date, no reports of any adverse reactions have been received from consumers regarding this product and no other Kotex-branded products are subject to this recall.
