A woman on TikTok is sounding the alarm about what she believes could be lurking inside menstrual pads from the brand Always. Viewers, however, weren’t convinced.
In her video, which has garnered over 2.7 million views, TikTok creator Alanna (@alannalangdon) explains why she now considers the product unsafe.
What’s Wrong With Always Pads?
“Hey guys… I just wanted to let you guys know that the brand Always—if you have these pads, do not buy them, please,” she says at the start of the clip.
She then demonstrates what she says people should do with a new pad.
“And if you have them, I want you to unravel it… brand new, by the way,” she explains, opening the product on camera. “Take this part off, open it, and you’re gonna have this.”
Holding the pad up to the light, she claims something extremely harmful becomes visible.
“You can see the mold,” she says. “The amount of mold that is in these pads is absolutely disturbing.”
Alanna says this wasn’t an isolated observation.
“I have seen multiple videos. It’s disturbing, and I have seen it for myself,” she continues, urging others to check their own products.
“I just want you all to check your pads and comment down below… because this is disturbing,” she concludes.
In a follow-up video, Alanna doubled down, placing the product directly over a light, where it appeared to show a brown, stain-like layer inside.
Do Always Pads Have Mold Inside?
Alanna isn’t the only one to make this claim about Always pads. Last year, thousands of creators on TikTok held their pads up to the light and said they were seeing the same thing.
However, what consumers are seeing is unlikely to be mold or anything harmful. According to a statement Always gave to Cosmopolitan, the appearance is actually caused by absorbent pulp fibers inside the pad.
The effect, the company said, happens when the material creates shadows as it’s held up to a light.
Some TikTok creators have also tried to debunk the claim by cutting the pads open, revealing the white absorbent material inside.
It should be noted, however, that Always hasn’t been free of controversy. The brand has previously been accused of containing harmful chemicals, and a recent study has explored possible links between Always menstrual products and health issues such as hormonal imbalances, infertility, endometriosis, and cancer.
Commenters Call Her Out
In the comments section, many viewers pushed back on her claim, saying what she showed wasn’t anything unusual.
“Lemme hold your hand when I tell you this… It’s cotton, babes… It’s cotton…,” one commenter wrote.
“Babe… delete this,” another added.
Others pointed out this isn’t a new viral claim. “We go through this at least once a year,” a third said.
Still, some viewers shared negative experiences with the product itself. “They are the only brand of pads I’ve ever worn that make me itch and then CONTINUE itching when I wasn’t on my period anymore,” one person wrote.
What did Always Say?
In a statement sent to The Mary Sue, an Always representative said the company has been dealing with this claim for months.
“We welcome the opportunity to correct ongoing misinformation we’ve been actively debunking for nearly six months,” the spokesperson said. “These claims first surfaced online in October 2025, and we have consistently taken steps to directly address and dispel myths about what consumers may be seeing.”
The company says its products undergo extensive testing before reaching consumers.
“At Always, we are committed to delivering superior period products that adhere to the highest standards of quality, performance and safety,” the statement continues. “We use a rigorous, multistep process to evaluate every component of our Always products. This includes extensive quality testing that is carried out before and during manufacturing.”
Addressing what some users believe they’re seeing inside the pads, the company says it comes down to standard materials.
“Absorbent pulp fibers are often used in menstrual products. Always only uses virgin pulp designed specifically for our menstrual products – no reused, no recycled fibers! The pulp inside these pads is white,” the spokesperson said.
They also addressed the discoloration seen in videos.
“The darker colors you see when putting your pad up against a light are not foreign material contamination,” the statement reads. “They are normal shadows that appear in products that contain pulp. When you shine light on these products, the absorbent core material creates visible shadows as it blocks the light.”
“You get the same result if you repeat this experiment with many everyday household items made with pulp like cotton balls, make-up remover pads or even paper,” the company added.
The brand says safety remains a priority.
“Consumer safety is our top priority,” the statement concludes. “Our pads are used safely by millions of women every day around the world and Always is the #1 pad brand recommended by Gynecologists and Pediatricians in the U.S.”
@alannalangdon If you own @Always products, I want you to check them. The amount of mold inside of the pads is disgusting and gross. We have to stop this. #checkyourpads #always #feminehygiene #spreadtheword #disturbing ♬ Piano famous song Chopin Deep deep clear beauty – RYOpianoforte
The Mary Sue has reached out to Alanna via TikTok messages.
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