5-soap-012411The FDA recently released findings stating that the anti-bacterial soaps we purchase really aren’t fighting germs. Interesting… 

 

It has taken over 40 years to conduct thorough research on the ingredients used in anti-bacterial soaps. Finally, the FDA has come to a conclusion that many shoppers may be surprised to hear. According to the FDA, most anti-bacterial soaps contain the triclosan ingredient. But, after running tests on lab animals, the FDA believes triclosan may cause more harm than good.

 

Researchers and the government agency both agree that this ingredient is ineffective and possibly a threat to public health.

 

The original studies focused on personal hygiene products, but soon expanded to other household products. Over the years, more companies began to add triclosan to household products. These products bring in revenues over $1 billion. Therefore, consumers have been dooped into buying anti-bacterial products when they could’ve used just standard soap and water all along.

 

“I suspect there are a lot of consumers who assume that by using an anti-bacterial soap product, they are protecting themselves from illness, protecting their families,” said Sandra Kweder, deputy director in the FDA’s drug center. “But we don’t have any evidence that that is really the case over simple soap and water.”

 

Now, the FDA has emposed an immediate internal review by companies that sell these products.  Companies are required to revise their marketing labels and/or reformulate their product. The FDA suspsect that these new regulations will require companies to spend an estimated $400 million to fix the problem.  Bath & Body Works, CVS, Ajax, Dial, Dove, and all other soap products labeled as “anti-bacterial” will be affected.

 

 

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