Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Tuesday that his office has opened an investigation into Hanes and Fruit of the Loom over children’s underwear, focusing on synthetic materials like polyester, rayon and spandex and whether chemicals such as PFAS, phthalates, bisphenols and parabens could be present in the fabric or used during manufacturing. Both companies received Civil Investigative Demands, which are formal requests for information. Gildan, which owns Hanes, told Reuters it intends to cooperate with the investigation and said it maintains manufacturing and sourcing standards designed to address harmful chemicals.

For local families, the headline may land harder than the facts currently support. Texas has not found harmful chemicals in any product so far, and no test results showing unsafe levels have been released. The investigation remains in its information-gathering stage, which means the state is asking questions rather than announcing findings. Fruit of the Loom is owned by Berkshire Hathaway.

These two brands are staples in kids’ drawers across Waxahachie and Ellis County, largely because they’re affordable and available just about everywhere. That’s exactly why the story is getting attention, but it’s also why it’s worth keeping perspective until there’s actual data on the table. We’ll continue following the investigation as it develops.

What do you think: should the state test products before opening an investigation, or is it fair to act on concerns first? Let us know.