O.B. · Tampons
o.b. Original Tampons Ultra 40 ct
Lower PFAS concern; standard tampon with no known fluorochemical treatments.
O.B. Original Ultra tampons are made from viscose rayon core material with a plastic applicator, materials not inherently associated with PFAS use in manufacturing. The brand makes no public PFAS claims or disclosures.
Shop O.B. on Amazon →Material
viscose rayon core, plastic/polyethylene applicator
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
Category baseline
period care is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
O.B. Original uses viscose rayon as the absorbent core, a regenerated cellulose fiber derived from wood pulp that has been the industry standard for decades. The plastic applicator is polyethylene, a common inert polymer with minimal leaching risk under normal vaginal use. Rayon does not naturally contain heavy metals, dyes, or antimicrobial coatings that would pose absorbency-related toxicity, though the rayon manufacturing process historically involved harsh chemicals; modern mills operate under stricter environmental controls.
The brand's record and disclosure
O.B. (owned by Edgewell/Energizer) has not published detailed chemical or material safety certifications for this product line, nor has the brand publicly addressed PFAS use in tampon production. No product-specific recalls or safety warnings are on record for O.B. Original tampons. The brand does not market organic or certified-clean positioning, indicating a conventional manufacturing stance without transparency claims.
How it compares in its category
O.B. Original sits in the mainstream rayon-applicator segment alongside Tampax and Kotex; it is not marketed as organic (like Cora or Seventh Generation) or applicator-free (like Tampax Pure). The applicator-inclusive design and conventional rayon material place it in the high-volume, price-accessible tier. No established safety advantage or disadvantage versus comparable rayon-core competitors is documented.
If you buy it
Use as directed; change every 4-8 hours per product guidance to reduce toxic shock syndrome (TSS) risk, which is not product-specific but a category concern. Store in a cool, dry place; polyethylene applicators are stable at room temperature. Discontinue immediately if unusual irritation, odor, or allergic reaction occurs. No special maintenance required beyond standard hygiene.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) risk
TSS is a category-wide risk linked to prolonged tampon use and colonization of Staphylococcus aureus; rayon core materials may theoretically retain bacteria longer than alternatives, but no O.B.-specific TSS outbreak data is established. Risk is minimized by adherence to 4-8 hour change intervals.
Formaldehyde resins or finishing agents in rayon
Viscose rayon can involve formaldehyde-based resins during finishing; O.B. does not disclose finish chemistry, and no published testing has detected elevated formaldehyde in this product. Residual exposure would be minimal given internal vaginal placement and low contact duration.
Azo dyes or synthetic colorants
O.B. Original does not appear to use colored dyes in the absorbent core or wrapper in any material visible to consumers. No established azo dye contamination has been reported for this product or brand.
Polyethylene applicator integrity and microplastics
Polyethylene applicators are not heated during use and are disposed after single use, minimizing microplastic shedding risk. Applicator fragmentation during insertion or removal is theoretically possible if mishandled but is not a documented hazard for O.B. or similar applicators.
Allergens or irritants in rayon or additives
Viscose rayon is hypoallergenic in standard formulation; O.B. does not list fragrance, chlorine bleach, or antimicrobial additives in marketing materials. No established allergen recalls or widespread irritation complaints specific to this product are on record.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Tampons
Seventh Generation
Organic Cotton Tampons Applicator
organic cotton (tampon & applicator core); cardboard applicator
Lower-concern buy, organic cotton & MADE SAFE cert reduce PFAS risk, though brand is silent on the topic.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Lola
Organic Cotton Tampons
organic cotton (no synthetic coatings)
Lower concern, uncoated organic cotton with transparent PFAS-free positioning and third-party certification.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Cora
Organic Tampons with Applicator
organic cotton tampon with cardboard/plastic applicator
Lower-concern choice; organic base material and MADE SAFE cert suggest thoughtful sourcing, but no explicit PFAS commitment.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
More tampons grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.