The FDA says manufacturers failed to show that the banned ingredients were safe and more effective than plain soap and water. After the proposal, several companies like Johnson & Johnson began phasing out these 19 antibacterial ingredients from their products. A 2007 paper published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases found that using triclosan-containing consumer soaps seemed to not offer an additional health benefit over using regular soap and water.
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Say goodbye to those “antibacterial” soaps. When interviewed last month, DeLeo thought the FDA would ban the chemical due to the state prohibition in Minnesota and consumer pressure.
In June, the FDA submitted a proposed rule requesting additional data on active ingredients in topical consumer antiseptic rubs, including hand sanitizers, which are marketed over the counter.
The rule does not affect any other products containing triclosan, which include cosmetics, shaving creams, and even some toothpastes. The FDA said there is not enough proof that any of the ingredients are safe in the long-term or are effective enough to live up to the antibacterial claim.
The Food and Drug Administration told Americans Friday that they could ditch their antibacterial soap and body wash.
Tressi Rose, a spokeswoman for Procter & Gamble, said it will replace “a few” remaining products well in advance of the FDA’s deadline for removing or reformulating the products a year from now. The ruling does not apply to sanitized wipes or to antibacterial products used in health care environments.
Some animal studies have shown that triclosan can disrupt the way that hormones work, setting the stage for long-term problems such as poor sperm quality, infertility, and damages to the developing brain, leading to learning disabilities.
The FDA has been collaborating with the Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates the use of triclosan as a pesticide, to review the effects of the chemical on human health. Triclosan is used in 93 percent of liquid products labeled “antibacterial” or “antimicrobial”.
The FDA urges people to use plain soap and water, instead of antibacterial soaps.
Antibacterial hand and body wash manufacturers did not provide the necessary data to establish safety and effectiveness for the 19 active ingredients, the agency said.
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The move is aimed at countering consumer perception that the antibacterial washes are more effective at killing germs and preventing illness, said the FDA’s Dr. Janet Woodcock. The FDA had given manufacturers time to come up with data showing their products were better than soap alone, but no significant new data was submitted, she said.
