DATE: Wednesday, October 22, 1997           TAG: 9710220556

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A9   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   25 lines

POSSIBLE LEAKAGE PROMPTS 57 MILLION CONDOMS' RECALL

Ansell Personal Products recalled batches of three brands of its condoms Tuesday after discovering that some may break.

Some 57 million condoms from the Lifestyles, Prime and Contempo brands were subject to the recall, the Food and Drug Administration said.

``That doesn't mean there are 57 million bad condoms,'' emphasized FDA spokeswoman Sharon Snider.

But when New Jersey-based Ansell discovered that some condoms could deteriorate before their expiration dates, it couldn't predict exactly which batches were at risk. So to be safe, it recalled every variety in question, Snider said.

Consumers may return recalled condoms to the place of purchase, or to Ansell Inc., Consumer Relations Dept., 1500 Industrial Road, Dothan, Ala. 36303.

Consumers may call 1-800-883-3434 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CDT for more information.

KEYWORDS: RECALL CONDOM

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