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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
France pulls nearly 300,000 unsafe condoms from shelves. French health and anti-fraud agencies have recalled around 260,000 condoms from pharmacies and shops after lab tests revealed risks of bursting or perforation. An additional 40,000+ were sold online without EU safety certification. Authorities are urging anyone who used the flagged products to get tested for STIs and take a pregnancy test if needed.
France's health agency (DGS) and anti-fraud agency (DGCCRF) have jointly issued a public warning and recall covering nearly 300,000 potentially unsafe condoms sold through pharmacies, shops, and online marketplaces. Lab testing flagged two products for risks of bursting or perforation — serious defects that could compromise protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy.
On top of the physical retail recall, regulators identified 30 condom product lines listed on online platforms that lacked the mandatory EU conformity seal or French-language labeling. Of those, roughly 1,000 boxes — containing more than 40,000 condoms — had already been purchased before the listings were taken down. Brands named in the warning include two from Japanese manufacturer Okamoto Industries, as well as My Lubie and Friday Bae by Passage du Désir.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Defective condoms pose direct risks of STI transmission and unintended pregnancy. Authorities are advising anyone who used the recalled products to seek STI screening and take a pregnancy test if they've missed a period — a reminder that supply chain and regulatory oversight of medical-grade consumer products has real public health consequences.
