Page 8
Page 8 University Daily Kansan, October 2, 1980
FDA plans toxic shock warnings
By ELIZABETH MORGAN Staff Reporter
The Food and Drug Administration will publish a proposal in the Federal Register that would require tampon makers to label their products with a warning of the connection between flu and tampon use, according to Gerald Vince, acting district director of the FDA in Kansas City, Mo.
If the proposal takes effect, manufacturers will be required to have warning labels within 30 to 60 days. Vince said recently.
United Press International reported yesterday that a Wichita woman had been hospitalized suffering from toxic shock syndrome under 30. A spokesman for Wesley Medical Center could not confirm whether the woman
had used Rely tampons. The woman's name and age were not released.
IN AN ADVERTISING campaign beginning next week, Procter & Gamble will advise women not to use Rely unless future research shows that there is no connection between toxic shock syndrome and Rely, Don Tassone, company spokesman in Cincinnati, Ohio, said yesterday.
The campaign, part of an agreement with the FDA, will inform women of the symptoms of toxic shock and its connection to tampon use. The campaign will also publicize a refund offer by Procter & Gamble, he said.
Procter & Gamble is refunding purchased Reft tampons.
Procter & Gamble voluntarily suspended the sales after studies by the
"We still feel we have a safe product," Tassone said. "There was exhaustive testing of the product prior to marketing. We've studied the data and found that it really up with are too fragmented and limited to come to any conclusion."
FDA suggested a connection between the use of Rely and toxic shock syn-
PROCTER & GAMBLE has independent scientific advisers researching and reviewing the conclusions of the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, which conducted the study that led to the suspension of sales.
If research proves there is no connection between the tampons and the disease, and if the FDA approves, it will be free to rely back on the market, Tassone said.
If they do not put Rely back on the market, the losses of the company would be about $75 million after taxes, Tassone said. Sales of the tampon account for less than 1 percent of the company's total sales.
According to the Center for Disease Control, 3 of 100,000 women of menstrual age will get the disease. Seven of 100 victims die of toxic shock. Nearly 350 cases have been reported since Jan. 2006. Of these, 98% are women. There have been rare cases of men and non-menstruating women having the disease.
Although there were reports of the symptoms of the disease up to 20 years ago, the cases seem to have increased since 1975.
Stafford Smith, an information officer for the Center for Disease Control,
said he thought the increase was caused by an increase in tampon use.
Tampon use creates a favorable environment for the disease, and research is being conducted to find out what creates this environment.
"It was not a large study." Smith said, "but significant enough."
A STUDY of 50 cases of the disease led to the suspension of Rely tampon sales. Rely had been used in 71 percent of the reported cases.
Symptoms of toxic shock syndrome are a sudden high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, a rapid drop of blood pressure and skin rash. Symptoms of sunburn like rash with peeling skin.
Consumers wanting a refund for Rely tampons can mail the product to: Rely Product Refund, P.O. Box PM008, El Paso, Tex., 79968.
25th Iowa
THE SWEDISH SHOP
10% OFF All serving trays and vacuum thermos servers
25th and Iowa Holiday Plaza
Women's Clogs $3.00 off reg. $36.00
Meisner -
Milstead
Liquor
Featuring one of the largest selections of wine in town. We have something to suit every taste. Let us serve you!
25th & Iowa 842-4499 Holiday Plaza
Moonlight Specials
20% to 50%
OFF on Selected Groups of
Handbags • Jewelry
Socks • Billfolds
Key Rings • Belts
and More!
From 4 to 10 Tonite Only.
Moonlight Madness Super Sale!
Discwasher Mfg. List $16.50
Tonite Only ...$9.95
Records:
All Retail $7.98...Tonite $5.49
All Retail $8.98...Tonite $5.99
All Retail $9.98...Tonite $6.99
Maxell Tapes:
Maxell Tapes:
List/ea. Case-10
LN-C90 ... $4.20... $22.50
UD-C90 ... $5.95... $35.90
XL-II-C90 ... $7.25... $39.50
KIEF'S DISCOUNT RECORDS & STEREO
25th & Iowa 842-1544
HANG EM ALL THIS FALL.
PRINTS POSTERS PICTURES (STOCK)
20-40%
OFF FRAMING
EXCLUDED
THURSDAY ONLY
4-10
Gabriel's Moonlight Special
FREE pitcher of beer or your favorite soft drink when you order any MEDIUM or LARGE PIZZA 4 p.m. until close
(offer not good on deliveries)
Don't Forget Our Luncheon Buffet
$1.99 All the Pizza You Can Eat
Mon - Fri 11:30 - 1:30
$2.99 All the Pizza You Can Eat plus soup, salad,and a sixteen ounce soft drink
2449 Iowa in Holiday Plaza Carry-Out & Delivery 842-5824
Super Savings!
20% OFF Stationery
20% OFF Prisms
20% OFF Posters
50% OFF Gift Canning
FREE Pente Lessons "Moonlight Madness" From 4 to 10 Tonite Only!
Unusual Cards & Gifts Holiday Plaza
T u i a t