KUALA LUMPUR – The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry is investigating whether a range of Carefree pantiliners, recently implicated in a US lawsuit for allegedly containing cancer-causing chemicals, are being sold in Malaysia.
Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh said while no complaints have been lodged with the ministry or the Health Ministry, the Domestic Trade Ministry is scrutinising the matter in accordance with existing laws.
The matter, she told Scoop, is being monitored under Section 23(1) of the Consumer Protection Act 1999 on the minister’s power to prohibit unsafe goods if it has caused or is likely to cause injury to any person.
“Discussions with Health Ministry representatives and (relevant) industry players will also be held.
“The Domestic Trade Ministry will secure information on whether the same product (involved in the lawsuit) is available for sale in Malaysia,” she added.
On September 30, it was reported that advocacy group Ecological Alliance LLC had initiated a lawsuit against Carefree’s owner, Edgewell Personal Care Brands LLC, over allegations that its pantiliners contain perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) following an independent lab test.
PFOA, which is also known as a ‘forever chemical’ due to its difficulty to break down, has previously been linked to various health issues, including increased risk of some cancers, liver damage, high cholesterol, developmental effects and disruptions to the immune system.
The lawsuit, filed at the Los Angeles Superior Court, claims that Carefree pantiliners pose a significant health concern due to its prolonged contact with the vaginal area, which is highly susceptible to absorbing harmful chemicals directly into the bloodstream.
Attorney Vineet Dubey, representing the complainant, asserted that Connecticut-based Carefree should eliminate PFOA from its pantiliners or display a label on its packaging to warn consumers.
“PFOA is a known reproductive toxin and no amount is considered safe…This synthetic chemical accumulates over time in the human body, leading to adverse reproductive effects such as decreased fertility and hormone interference.
“Additionally, it can increase hypertension in pregnant women. Women use this product for eight to 10 hours at a time, which results in continuous exposure to PFOA, potentially on a daily basis,” he was quoted as saying.
He added that while consumers might expect a “successful, American-made product” to meet stringent health and safety standards, the lawsuit shows that even domestically made products can pose significant risks to consumers when harmful chemicals like PFOA are involved.
Malaysian women had previously taken to social media to voice their concerns over the issue, with some netizens expressing their disappointment as Carefree was their brand of choice. – October 10, 2024