Geoff: Tampons are the latest
addition to the growing list of
out-of-stock items in states all
across the country.
Supply chain problems have left
many shelves sparse, and the
products have become more
expensive, making it equally
hard to find affordable
alternatives.
Lisa Desjardins looks into
what's behind this latest
shortage.
Lisa: Overlapping with the
ongoing baby formula shortage,
scarcity of some tampon products
across the country is driving
more consumer frustration.
To explain what's happening
here, I'm joined by Sharon
terlep of "The Wall Street
journal."
Sharon, Americans know by now
we've had supply chain issues up
and down the product line for
consumers.
But why in particular with
tampons?
What's going on?
Sharon: Sure.
It's a case of there's problems
all over, and it's, you know,
just some of them happened to
hit tampons.
But, part of this is because
it's an industry that's
dominated by one very large
player, proctor and gamble.
They ran into some bumps.
And then the number two player,
edgewell, had a very specific
kind of tampon-related supply
chain issue.
And so, all of a sudden, there
are a lot of brands that just
aren't available, which, you
know, as any woman who's used a
tampon knows, you want your
brand and what you're
comfortable with.
Lisa: Does this have to do with
supply coming from outside the
United States?
Of what goes into making
tampons?
Sharon: Sure, I mean tampons --
they seem simple, but they're
actually pretty complicated and
regulated.
They're regulated as a medical
device by the fda, so not anyone
can make them.
They're made out of what we
would call a non-woven, which
are kind of fused together.
So, they're a complicated and
pretty high tech product, so
they're the kind of thing that,
when there are supply chain
issues, they're more likely to
be affected.
Lisa: Now Walgreens told us in a
statement that their pharmacies
are "Experiencing some temporary
brand-specific shortages in
certain geographies."
So, have prices going up
everywhere?
Where exactly are there
shortages right now?
Sharon: Sure, prices have gone
up everywhere.
So, every company that makes
Tampa palms -- tampons, all the
big companies have raised
prices, just as part of
inflation, and supply chain
issues.
But, what we saw in the data is
there's regional shortages that
are, you know, more severe than
others.
A lot of it just has to do with,
you know, it can be as specific
as to the store, or it may be a
brand.
So it's not widespread, but it's
widespread enough that it seems
fairly severe.
Lisa: This is the second major
product that we've seen used by
women, and by anyone who can get
pregnant, including transgender
and non-binary people.
Is it just coincidental, this
kind of shortage, and baby
formula?
Or, is there some sort of lack
of priority on these items?
Or, maybe just too few companies
that make them?
Sharon: Yeah.
I mean, certainly there is, uh
there's the issue of too few
companies making these products.
Earlier this year, there was an
issue of diapers.
So, I think that even added,
particularly to parents, of
course, you know, not only
women, but to parents.
Part of it is the nature of the
item.
It's an essential item, but
unlike medication, it doesn't
have the same kind of urgent,
emergency status that you might
see for some others -- face
masks, vaccines.
You know, you have diaper banks,
and at diaper banks, you can
sometimes get tampons, but it's
not -- it doesn't have the same
kind of urgency that some other
essential items might have.
Lisa: I know many people want to
know -- how long is this going
to last?
How long are people going to
have to juggle, and sort of,
make do, and perhaps not get the
products that they need?
Sharon: Sure, and you know, the
companies have said they feel
like they're getting closer.
The -- you know, the supply is
improving.
I think we saw last year a lot,
in a lot of cases, companies
predicted an end to shortage,
and they were wrong.
So, nobody's going to predict
that.
But, in the last couple of
months, supply has improved.
And so, I think you'll see
improvement in the next couple
of months, barring something
unforeseen, which, of course is
you know, no one can bet on that
right now.
Lisa: Sharon terlep of "The wall
Street journal," we appreciate
your time.
Sharon: Thank you.
Take care.
♪♪