O.B. · Tampons
O.B. Tampons Multi-Pack Regular/Super/Super Plus 40 ct
Lower-concern period product; no known PFAS drivers in standard tampon construction.
O.B. tampons are made from rayon and cotton, materials with no inherent PFAS risk. The brand does not disclose PFAS policies or hold third-party eco certifications. No public lab data or recall history exists for this product.
Shop O.B. on Amazon →Material
Rayon/viscose core with cotton cover
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
period care is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
O.B. tampons use a rayon (viscose) core wrapped in a cotton cover, a conventional construction for absorbent hygiene products. Rayon is a cellulose-derived semi-synthetic fiber produced through chemical processing but does not inherently leach harmful substances under normal internal use. The cotton outer layer serves as a physical barrier and adds absorbency. Neither material is known to release toxic compounds, heavy metals, or endocrine disruptors during vaginal insertion or wear.
The brand's record and disclosure
Procter and Gamble (O.B.'s parent company) has not publicly disclosed PFAS testing or PFAS-free certification for O.B. tampons, though the brand maintains general safety compliance with FDA regulations for menstrual products. No major recalls, contamination incidents, or chemical hazard warnings have been recorded for O.B. tampons in public databases. The brand does not market organic or certification-driven positioning, relying instead on conventional manufacturing standards.
How it compares in its category
O.B. is a mainstream mass-market tampon with rayon-cotton construction identical to most conventional competitors (Tampax, Kotex). Organic alternatives (Seventh Generation, Cora) may avoid synthetic rayon but cost more and lack demonstrated safety advantage for non-PFAS hazards. O.B. does not advertise elemental chlorine-free (ECF) or oxygen-delignification processes, which some brands highlight to reduce dioxin residues, though dioxin levels in all modern U.S. tampons are considered negligible by regulatory standards.
If you buy it
Change tampons every 4 to 8 hours depending on flow to minimize bacterial overgrowth risk (toxic shock syndrome hazard applies to all tampons, not brand-specific). Store in a dry location; tampons have no heat or moisture sensitivity once packaged. Discard after use; do not flush if plumbing is sensitive. If you have sensitive skin or a history of irritation, patch-test a single use or consult your physician, as individual tolerance varies regardless of brand.
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.”
Dioxin residues from bleaching
O.B. does not publicly specify ECF or oxygen-delignification processes, but all FDA-approved U.S. tampons have met modern bleaching standards that reduce dioxin to trace levels considered toxicologically negligible by the EPA.
Bacterial contamination / Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) risk
TSS risk applies uniformly to all tampons regardless of brand or material when left in place longer than recommended (>8 hours). O.B. carries no higher or lower intrinsic TSS risk than competitors; user behavior (change frequency) is the primary driver.
Allergens or irritants in rayon-cotton construction
Rayon and cotton as base materials carry no known sensitizers or irritants at typical use concentrations. Individual allergic reactions to O.B. are rare and idiosyncratic; no pattern of contact dermatitis or chemical sensitivity has been documented for this product.
Heavy metals in dyes or pigments (if applicator present)
O.B. Regular/Super/Super Plus come with cardboard or plastic applicators; no dyes or pigments contact the internal tampon material, and no heavy metal contamination has been reported in applicator components.
PFAS in rayon production or water treatment (not graded separately)
Rayon viscose production may involve legacy PFAS-containing water treatment or firefighting foams at some mills; O.B. does not disclose supply-chain PFAS audits, placing this product in the lower-concern category for menstrual products but not fully transparent.
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.