On 28 May 2025, The Guardian broke a story that should never have needed breaking:
Tampons sold in UK stores contain glyphosate — a toxic pesticide linked to cancer — at levels 40 times higher than the legal limit for drinking water.
Let’s be clear:
Glyphosate has no business being anywhere near your vagina. And yet here we are.
At DAME, we’ve been shouting about this for years. So, if you’re just hearing about pesticides in tampons now — welcome. You deserve to know what’s in your period products.
What's Actually in Mainstream Tampons?
According to a joint report by the Pesticide Action Network UK, the Women’s Environmental Network, and the Pesticide Collaboration, researchers found traces of glyphosate and its breakdown product AMPA in tampons from major UK brands.
Why? Because most tampons are made from non-organic cotton — one of the world’s most pesticide-heavy crops. It’s doused in weedkillers, sprayed with insecticides, and then bleached and processed.
And here’s the kicker:
The vagina is one of the most absorbent parts of the human body. Chemicals absorbed here bypass the liver — your body’s main detox organ — and go straight into your bloodstream.
So even tiny amounts of pesticide residue? They matter. A lot.
What is Glyphosate and Why Is It Dangerous?
Glyphosate is the most widely used weedkiller in the world. It’s sprayed to prepare fields for crops — including cotton. But it’s also been labelled “probably carcinogenic to humans” by the World Health Organization.
Studies have linked glyphosate to:
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Cancer
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Parkinson’s
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Hormonal disruption
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Biodiversity loss (yes, it kills bees too)
In the UK, the maximum allowable level of glyphosate in drinking water is 0.0001 mg/kg. The tampons tested in the study contained 0.004 mg/kg — 40x over the legal water limit.
And yet, unlike food or water, there are no mandatory tests for pesticides in tampons. No labelling requirements. No regulation.
It’s a toxic loophole. And it’s leaving millions of people exposed.
How Can You Stay Safe?
We get it — you shouldn’t have to be a chemist to buy safe tampons. That’s why we made it simple:
✔️ Use certified organic tampons and pads
At DAME, we use 100% organic, pesticide-free cotton. No glyphosate. No bleach. No plastic. Our products are independently tested to the highest EU safety standards.
✔️ Switch to a brand you can trust
If you’re still using supermarket tampons, today is the day to switch. Browse our organic tampons and pads and protect your body from chemicals you never signed up for.
✔️ Demand better regulation
Already a DAME customer? Great. Now help us make sure everybody has access to safe period care.
Sign this petition calling for mandatory testing and tighter rules on chemicals in tampons and pads.
We’ve Been Fighting Big Tampon for Years
The tampon industry has long relied on secrecy, shame, and outdated rules. They assume you won’t ask what’s in their products — and for decades, most people didn’t.
But now we know better.
No one should bleed in ignorance. Not when the solution is as simple as switching brands — and raising your voice.
Join us.
Say no to pesticides in tampons. Say yes to period care that puts your health first.
🩸 Try DAME today
📢 Sign the petition
Read the Guardian Article
