KEBS investigates Always sanitary pads following online outcry

The Kenya Bureau of Standard (KEBS) has launched investigations into the quality Always sanitary pads after an online debate on Twitter on the negative effects of the products through a hashtag #MyAlwaysExperience.

In a circular, the agency said that it will conduct an extensive market surveillance and testing of the products to find out if there exists any breach of quality standards.

The Always towels to undergo the examination include Always Ultra, Always Platinum, Always Maxi, Always Ultra-normal and Always Extra-long.

“The outcome of the analysis to be conducted will determine the next cause of action including market withdrawal of any substandard products,” stated KEBS.

Early this week, women in Kenya took to Twitter to share their bad experience with the usage of Always sanitary towels that they claimed cause burns, rashes and irritation on the crotch after usage in every month’s cycle.

The heated conversation begun after the brand produced by Proctor & Gamble (P&G) company sponsored a number of influencers at the weekend as part of the launch of their new towels, Always Ultra Soft.

But vexed women called out the manufacturers for ignoring their aired concerns on the poor towels compared to those sold in the developed countries.

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Further, Kenyan women in diaspora joined the conversation as comparisons on the Always towels sold in Kenya and UK among other western countries were done to ascertain the truth on the quality of the products.

#myalwaysexperience..I switched to Kotex after I could no longer take the itchiness and the discomfort that comes with Always and they also leak.I tried all Always products and the results were the same.Their prices don't conform with their quality at all..Kotex all the way..

— Wambui Wahome (@Wambui__Wahome) March 12, 2019

The worst part about #MyAlwaysExperience is how most of us suffered in silence thinking it was our bodies that were acting up because of periods. We made excuses for a brand that did so well with having catchy songs on TV. https://t.co/x2G40p3Rdd

— Jemena (@valmoch4) March 12, 2019

Always has good products in 'first world countries.' The fact that they bring us the worst toxic products made with plastic is incredibly racist because it perpetuates the racist notion that black women don't feel pain like white women, the very foundation of #medicalracism.

— deadbeat plant mom (@gatwiri_ch) March 11, 2019

Menstrual hygiene is a subject I hold dear to my heart. My office took the time to gather feedback from consumers and formally engaged the manufacturer. Kenyan women will not be condemned to sanitary towels that compromise their health/ comfort. #MyAlwaysExperience @Always

— Hon. Esther M Passaris (@EstherPassaris) March 13, 2019

However, Always Kenya had dismissed the complaints made by Kenyan women and maintained that their products undergo vigorous and regulatory tests to ensure that they are safe for usage.

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“The Always Ultra pads we have in Kenya are similar to the Always pads in other parts of the world including Germany, UK, US, South Africa. All our pads including the ones in Kenya are designed and developed in Europe and the US,” wrote Always Kenya.