Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an industry-wide investigation into major feminine hygiene and cosmetic brands over concerns that consumers are being misled about toxic chemicals in their products.

The state’s top legal official issued civil investigative demands to several leading tampon and pad manufacturers, including Tampax, Kotex, L., and LOLA. The inquiry will focus on whether these companies breached the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by misrepresenting the safety, chemical purity, and overall quality of their offerings.

Federal Findings Contrast State Push

The investigation stems in part from a 2024 University of California, Berkeley study that detected trace amounts of 16 heavy metals—including lead, arsenic, and cadmium—across more than 30 tampon products from 14 different brands. Paxton’s office noted that brands marketing themselves as “clean” or “non-toxic,” such as LOLA and L., have not faced independent verification of those claims.

However, federal health regulators recently concluded their own review with different findings. Earlier this month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that while trace metals exist in tampons, the levels released during actual use are too minute to pose health risks to consumers.

Cosmetics and Lip Products Also Facing Scrutiny

Beyond period products, the Attorney General’s office outlined plans to inspect lip balms and lipsticks. Officials cited reports indicating some lip cosmetics contain petroleum-based ingredients, microplastics, synthetic dyes, and titanium dioxide.

The state expressed specific concern over lip products targeted at children or created in partnership with food brands, arguing such marketing could trick young consumers into believing the items are safe to ingest. Specific cosmetic brands and supporting studies for this branch of the inquiry were not immediately named.

Alignment with ‘MAHA’ Campaign Platform

In a public statement, Paxton linked the state action to a broader political narrative aligned with his current campaign for the U.S. Senate.

“I will continue to work tirelessly to help Make America Healthy Again by stopping companies that illegally put toxic heavy metals and dangerous chemicals in their products,” Paxton said. “Many corporations have neglected the health of women by using harmful ingredients in their everyday products, but my office will fight to defend Texas women and their health. No corporation should mislead women about the safety of its products, and my office will thoroughly investigate any company that harms the health of Texans.”

This move follows previous enforcement actions by Paxton’s office under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which recently targeted online retailer Temu over data privacy issues and LinkedIn regarding “ghost” job listings.

Representatives for Tampax, Kotex, L., and LOLA did not immediately respond to requests for comment, boss.