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Moldy Tampons: Danielle Parr, Woman, Finds Black Spots On Kotex Product (VIDEO)

WATCH: Is That MOLD On My Tampon?
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A Texas woman found an unexpected substance growing on an unused tampon: mold.

Danielle Parr noticed the black spots after she accidentally popped the Kotex product out of its applicator, according to her blog post.

Horrified, the Texas woman contacted maker Kimberly-Clark Corporation, which owns Kotex, to report the issue. According to a post Parr published on her blog, a spokesperson told her the substance wasn't something to be concerned about:


In instances where it has been found, we conducted tests on the product involved and have found the mold to be a common environmental species that carries no health risk. The vegetative mold is similar in nature to mold on vegetables or in baked goods.

Dissatisfied with the response, Parr contacted local news station WFAA, which also began investigating into the matter.

The station reached out to Dr. Jay Staub, an obstetrician and gynecologist, who called the tampon in question "disgusting."

"If a woman uses a tampon that is contaminated with bacteria, mold, I suppose there can be a risk of infection because you're putting mold in the vagina," he told WFAA.

Parr's story took off, and in a subsequent post, the blogger updated her readers with the follow-up response she said the company had sent to her:

Nothing is more important to us than consumer safety. Any discoloration or abnormality with our tampons is extremely rare, and we want to do a full investigation to determine the source and follow-up with our manufacturing facility.

Parr acknowledged manufacturing mishaps happen and said she's grateful the company has vowed to look further into the matter. She even suggested how Kimberly-Clark might alter the product to give women peace of mind: Replace the opaque applicator with a see-through one.

Despite the apology, Jezebel's Erin Gloria Ryan points out the incident still gives "millions of women a reason to rip open their box of cotton ponies and examine them individually for mold like a crazy person."

The mold incident isn't the first matter that's pushed Kimberly-Clark into the spotlight in recent months.

In November, the company recalled nearly 1,400 cartons of tampons, claiming the products could contain a bacteria capable of causing dangerous and potentially life-threatening infections.

The company said stores were notified about the recall and were instructed to remove the items from the shelves.

For more on the story, watch WFAA's report above.

RELATED SLIDESHOW: 5 Potentially Toxic Products You May Have In Your Home

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Before You Go

Top 5 Greatest Dangers Under Your Sink
Carpet Shampoo(01 of05)
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Carpet cleaners can contain naphthalene (found in mothballs) and perchloroethylene (often used in dry cleaning), known human carcinogens which can cause central nervous system (CNS) effects like dizziness, sleepiness and nausea. They may also include ammonia and synthetic fragrances. The amount of chemicals released from carpet cleaners and deodorizers can be considerable when large areas of the carpet have been cleaned. Children spend an awful lot of time crawling and playing on the carpet, so they are most susceptible.If you need to take care of basic carpet stains yourself -- a simple mixture of warm water and vinegar with a tablespoon of liquid castile soap should get the job done. If you're planning to have your carpets professionally cleaned, be sure you locate a company who uses products certified by an independent organization like Green Seal. You can also ask them to clean using only water and baking soda, steam or club soda. (credit:alamy)
Dishwasher Detergents(02 of05)
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You've probably seen "phosphate-free" labels trumpeted by the big names in laundry detergents for a long time. Phosphates were banned in laundry detergents because they pollute ground water supplies. It makes sense that the same principle should apply in other types of detergents, right? But that isn't the case. Phosphates are still a major, and legal, ingredient in many dishwashing detergents, although several states have proposed a ban. And that's not all. Closer to home, dishwasher detergents also typically include chlorine, which as we've seen can be a major cause of respiratory ailments. How? Simple: Chlorine fumes are especially volatile when heated during the drying cycle of your dishwasher. And if you open the door of your dishwasher early to get something you need -- as we have all done -- you get a nice toxic facial. Lovely. (credit:alamy)
Drain Cleaner(03 of05)
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Drain cleaners come in both solid crystals and liquid forms. Either way, they're some of the most hazardous products in your home. Most contain lye, bleach, potassium hydroxide and sulfuric acid (mostly in liquids). I mean think about it: Their job is to dissolve human hair and waste in drains.The best solution is to prevent clogs in the first place. Capture hair, food and other drain-clogging particles by using a drain screen. If you do get a clog, however, use an old fashioned plunger (but never after you've already tried a caustic cleaner). There are also biological or enzyme-based drain cleaners, but they're better at keeping drains clean than unplugging clogged ones. (credit:alamy)
Oven Cleaner(04 of05)
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Oven cleaners are a big concern. Almost all of them contain lye, which is terrifically corrosive and can cause severe burns. These products come in several forms, but by far the worst is the aerosol form, which produces an easy-to-inhale fine mist. Even tiny amounts will cause your lungs to burn. In severe exposures, your upper airway can contract and asphyxia can occur. So how do you keep your oven clean? You don't actually. But you can help keep it from getting dirty by lining the oven floor with aluminum foil to catch spills or by using a scouring paste of baking soda mixed with sea salt. (credit:alamy)
Toilet Bowl Cleaner(05 of05)
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Typical toilet bowl cleaners contain hydrochloric acid (HCL) and bleach. We already know that bleach causes harm if you simply breathe its fumes. But did you know that exposure to high levels of HCL vapor can result in rapid breathing, narrowing bronchioles and even death? Some people exposed to HCL develop the inflammatory condition called reactive airways dysfunction syndrome, the same chemically induced form of asthma that threatened my son. (credit:alamy)
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