§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to initiate research into and call for evidence from the Federal Food and Drugs Administration on possible toxic shock effects from the use of internal sanitary protection tampons containing cellulose of the type recently withdrawn from sale in the United States of America.
§ Sir George YoungThe Department has been in contact with the United States Food and Drug Administration. Some information has already been received and is being considered. Further data are being sought from them.
Other action is being taken as follows:
(1) the Laboratory of the Government Chemist is undertaking analysis of all major brands of tampon; (2) Officials of the DHSS and Department of Trade have met representatives of the United Kingdom tampon manufacturers; (3) DHSS officials have been in touch with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists; and other medical bodies will be consulted as appropriate.Inquiries of the trade show no reason to suppose that the product recently withdrawn from sale in the USA has ever been available in this country.