In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are talking about something that does not fall within the realm of food safety but still needs to be discussed because it affects millions of women: tampons. They are going over some recent studies that show there are lead, arsenic, and other potentially toxic chemicals in tampons and panty liners.  This is probably the most difficult episode they’ve ever recorded since this topic is no joke. So, get ready for a wild ride. In this episode: 💩 [01:22] The issue with tampons 💩 [05:05] Research findings, stats, and next questions 💩 [11:28] We live in a plastic world 💩 [12:38] Why we keep finding toxic and harmful things in everything 💩 [14:29] What tampons are made of 💩 [16:22] A hard topic to talk about 💩 [20:38] The chicken or the egg? Disclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice. Resources from this episodeCatch up with the placenta episode: Episode 28 | Don't Eat Placentas! (or do, maybe, I guess). Check out the NPR article Matt talks about: A study found toxic metals in popular tampon brands. Here's what experts advise. Check out the CNN article: Tampons contain lead, arsenic and potentially toxic chemicals, studies say. Here’s what to know. Noteworthy quotes from this episode “At low doses, is this bad? Yeah, it's not good for you, but by compounding it with all these other products, then now you're having high doses of heavy metals in your body. It's not good.” – Matthew Regusci “A person is going to spend about 5 years of their total reproductive lifespan using an approximate or estimated 11, 000 tampons, sanitary pads, panty liners, and other menstrual products. Think about that. That's huge.” – Francine L Shaw We hope you enjoy this episode! Remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Together, we can raise awareness and make a positive impact in the world of food safety! We'd love to hear from you! Connect with Francine, Matt, and the "Don't Eat Poop!" show on LinkedIn!  Share your thoughts and feedback on the show and feel free to offer any topics you would like to hear discussed. Check out Francine's book Who Watches the Kitchen? on Amazon!  _______ Produced by Ideablossoms