FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Being able to regularly afford menstrual care in addition to groceries is something that is out of reach for far too many Americans. When money gets tight, one of the first things sacrificed is adequate menstrual care, which can lead to health risks, shame, and lost economic and educational opportunities. Without governmental action such as expanding Medicaid benefits to cover these items, or providing them free of charge at places like universities, libraries, and shelters, this will continue to be the case. ​ We at Loopholes decided, 'Why wait for federal action?' and combined tampons and cereal into one glorious, ~technically~ Federally funded, SNAP-eligible breakfast!

Broadly speaking, period poverty refers to the inability to access menstrual hygiene products. This can manifest in several ways. A lack of physical access to menstrual products, education, hygiene facilities, waste management, or a combination of these could all be considered period poverty. All of these factors contribute to feelings of shame, poor physical and mental health, and missed educational or employment opportunities for at-risk menstruators. Through Loopholes, we hope to shine a light on this devastating issue and direct people to actions that they can take to help further the cause of menstrual equity for all.

The Menstrual Equity for All Act is a bold, whole-of-government, and comprehensive initiative that seeks to help those who menstruate afford and access needed menstrual products, including tampons, pads and many other items. The bill contains numerous components that include: Giving states the option to use federal grant funds to provide students with free menstrual products in schools – these grants already provide funding for health and wellness efforts; Incentivizing colleges and universities to implement pilot programs that provide free menstrual products to students; Ensuring that incarcerated individuals and detainees in federal (including immigration detention centers), state, and local facilities have access to free menstrual products, including requiring guidance on distribution; Allowing homeless assistance providers to use grant funds that cover shelter necessities (such as blankets and toothbrushes) to also use that money to purchase menstrual products; Requiring Medicaid to cover the cost of menstrual products; Directing large employers (with 100 or more employees) to provide free menstrual products for their employees in the workplace; and Requiring all public federal buildings, including buildings in the U.S. Capitol complex, to provide free menstrual products in restrooms. ​ Read more about it here. And send a message to your representatives asking for their support here!

Included with every box are five pieces of menstrual care divided between pads and tampons. While a typical cycle may require more or less, this is meant to represent the typical product needs of a period. ​ All of Loophole's pads and tampons are generously provided by August. The products are 100% organic cotton, because we believe that the menstrual care we provide to Loopholes fans should be of the highest quality! The cereal itself was generously donated to the project by OffLimits, and is plant-based, gluten free, vegan, and delicious (in case you were wondering).

Loopholes is a fictional cereal invented to address a very real problem. We appreciate your enthusiam for our brand, so if you'd like to recreate the Loopholes Experience for yourself at home, follow this simple recipe: 1 Box OffLimits Spark Cereal 1 Box August Products (either tampons, pads, or a combination depending on preference) Assemble ingredients in bowl, stir to combine. Add milk at own risk.

Donate time, resources, money and support to the nonprofits engaged in the menstrual equity space. A list of our partner nonprofits is available on our OUR PARTNERS Page. Write to your representatives to ask them to endorse the Menstrual Equity for All Act on our TAKE ACTION page. Download and share our assets on your social channels to spread the word and get your friends involved!

We at Loopholes believe that the government needs to do more to address this issue because so much of period poverty is a result of systemic injustice. Currently there are no major government programs in place to provide meaningful assistance to menstruators in need. The Menstrual Equity for All Act would require Medicaid to expand coverage to cover the cost of menstrual products.

First of all, you may have noticed that we have used the term 'menstruators' instead of overly gendered language to describe the issue. This is because not all women menstruate and not all people who menstruate are women. Learn more about how to discuss menstrual issues in a more gender-inclusive way HERE. Now back to the question at hand! The federal minimum wage in this country is still $7.25 an hour, an average box of tampons at Target can cost upwards of $7.49. Don’t ever assume someone can afford these items on a whim, much less through careful budgeting. Also, this question assumes someone knows exactly when their period will come, how heavy their flow might be on that particular day, and that they even have access to menstrual products to begin with. Tampons and pads are basic hygiene products. Much in the way you would expect a public restroom to be stocked with toilet paper, you should expect to find menstrual care available. We are advocating for a society in which menstruation is a normalized, non-stigmatized subject and where no one should go without the necessary products they need to ensure their health and well-being.

We welcome anything not covered either in the above questions or elsewhere on our site. Email us at LoopholesCereal@gmail.com and we'll get back to you!