FDA has banned antibacterial chemicals from soaps

FDA has banned antibacterial chemicals from soaps

FDA has banned antibacterial chemicals from soaps, finally stating that they are not any more effective than regular soap and water and could cause damage in the long run.

This move affects 2,100 products, which is about 40 percent of the antibacterial soap products on the market, Dr. Theresa Michele, director of the FDA’s division of nonprescription drug products, said on a conference call with reporters.

The new rule does not affect products used in hospitals like hand sanitizers or other antibacterial products.

Consumers may think antibacterial washes are more effective at preventing the spread of germs, but we have no scientific evidence that they are any better than plain soap and water,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). “In fact, some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long-term.”

The FDA statement recommends the following:

Washing with plain soap and running water remains one of the most important steps consumers can take to avoid getting sick and to prevent spreading germs to others. If soap and water are not available and a consumer uses hand sanitizer instead, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that it be an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.

The FDA first started taking a closer look at antibacterial soaps in 2014, and have finally decided that they are potentially unsafe.

Studies have also shown that antibacterial soaps are endangering the health workers that use them. Antibacterial soaps also pose risks to pregnant women and fetuses, such as bacterial resistance or hormonal effects.

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FDA takes a close look at antibacterial soaps.
Antibacterial soaps endangering health workers.
Antibacterial soaps pose potential risks to pregnant women and fetuses.

REFERENCES:
1. “FDA Bans Antibacterial Chemicals From Consumer Soaps.” The Huffington Post. HuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. 5 Sept. 2016.
2. “FDA Issues Final Rule on Safety and Effectiveness of Antibacterial Soaps.” FDA.gov. U.S. Food & Drug Administration, n.d. Web. 06 Sept. 2016.

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