Well-known Carefree pads revealed to contain carcinogens, hundreds of women sue for compensation

The pads you use every day actually contain carcinogens! Carefree, a well-known feminine hygiene products brand, has recently caused legal issues in the United States. Hundreds of women have accused the brand's pads of containing the carcinogen PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), causing them to suffer from infections, cancer, infertility and other symptoms after using it.

According to the New York Post, hundreds of women have filed a class action lawsuit in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California, alleging that the pads produced by Carefree, a feminine hygiene product brand originally owned by Johnson & Johnson and now acquired by Essity, contain the cancer-causing chemical PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid). After long-term use of the brand's products, many women have experienced recurring infections, organ lesions, cancer, and even faced serious health problems such as infertility.

According to investigations, PFOA is a synthetic organic fluorine compound that belongs to the per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) family. Because its chemical bonds are extremely stable and cannot be broken down easily, they are called "Forever Chemicals" and have been confirmed as Level 1 carcinogens by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The women who filed the complaint said that many of them wore the pads for 10 hours or more at a time, and were exposed to the chemicals hundreds or even thousands of times over time. The plaintiff’s lawyer also pointed out that these pads have been in contact with women’s private parts for a long time. Since these tissues are highly permeable, chemical substances will directly enter the blood circulation after being absorbed. In addition to physical torture, many plaintiffs also said that they are in fear of getting cancer at any time every day, and they suffer huge physical and mental blows.

The lawsuit points out that manufacturers intentionally conceal the presence of PFOA in their products and do not indicate it at all on product labels and ingredient lists. In fact, they can detect this chemical through low-cost testing methods and have the ability to use completely PFAS-free alternatives, but they have failed to do so.

In addition, the manufacturer received notification that PFOA was detected in the pads as early as 2024, but continued to sell them. Although California law expressly prohibits the use of PFAS in specific textiles, they still sold them. Gelson's, a high-end supermarket chain headquartered in Los Angeles, was also named as a defendant for selling these products. Hundreds of women will seek punitive damages.