Chinese Companies Apologise for Shrunken Sanitary Pads

In China, major sanitary pad manufacturers are facing backlash and apologies after viral social media videos revealed that many of their products are shorter than advertised.

The controversy began when a user on the social media platform Xiaohongshu posted a video on 3 November showing that nine different brands of sanitary pads were all shorter than the length stated on their packaging. This sparked a wave of criticism from consumers, who accused the companies of deceit.

An investigation by The Paper, a Chinese news outlet, found that nearly 90% of the pads tested were at least 10mm shorter than claimed.

Additionally, many of the absorbent layers inside the pads were also found to be shorter than expected, despite national standards allowing for a 4% variance in length but not specifying standards for the absorbent layers. This has prompted widespread outrage, with consumers voicing concerns about being misled and cheated.

In response, popular brands like ABC, Shecare, and Beishute have apologised for the discrepancies and pledged to improve their products.

ABC’s customer service even stirred further anger by telling a dissatisfied customer to simply avoid purchasing the pads if they were unhappy with the length difference. The company later issued a formal apology, acknowledging the "inappropriate" response.

This issue has triggered broader concerns about the quality and safety of feminine hygiene products in China. In the past, the industry has been plagued by safety scandals, including a 2016 operation where millions of fake sanitary pads were sold without proper hygiene standards, and a 2021 case where a woman found a needle in a product from a popular brand.

The ongoing outrage is part of a larger wave of dissatisfaction with products designed for women. A trending hashtag on Weibo, "Sanitary pads yield a centimetre; women yield for a lifetime," encapsulates the frustration, highlighting how women feel short-changed not just in terms of product quality but also in their broader societal needs.

With the market for sanitary products in China valued at $13bn (£10bn), this issue has drawn significant attention from both consumers and state media, with calls for better regulation and accountability in the industry.
Source: BBC
Edited by: Evans Momodu