U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Is Saying, “Too Much!”
Posted by terrepruitt on September 19, 2016
Have you heard that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned antibacterial soap? Well, it doesn’t sound as if they are actually banning antibacterial soap and products, they are just banning most of the chemicals found in over-the-counter “consumer antiseptic wash products (including liquid, foam, gel hand soaps, bar soaps, and body washes).” The FDA is stating that “there isn’t enough science to show that over-the-counter (OTC) antibacterial soaps are better at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water.” There is nothing proving that there is any benefit to using them. You may have heard the debate about antibacterial soap and products actually doing the opposite of helping us stay healthy. Some say that they actually could be making us more sick because they could possibly lead to bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics. Bacteria seems smart in that it gets strong when it comes up against something that is fighting it. In addition to the conclusion that antibacterial soap is not better than washing with regular soap and water, the FDA is saying that the manufacturers of said products have not proven that the products are safe to use over the long term. So, they have ruled that the chemicals used to create such products will be banned.
Many medical professionals and scientists believe that just washing your hands with soap and water will help prevent the spread of germs. Theresa M. Michele, MD, of the FDA’s Division of Nonprescription Drug Products is quoted on the website as saying:
“Following simple handwashing practices is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of many types of infection and illness at home, at school and elsewhere. We can’t advise this enough. It’s simple, and it works.”
Hand sanitizers and hand wipes, are not affected by this ban. Neither is antibacterial soaps used in hospitals.
According to Wiki:
“Antibacterial soap is a type of cleaning product which contain chemical ingredients that purportedly assist in killing bacteria. Such chemicals frequently include triclosan, triclocarban, and chloroxylenol.”
It looks as if one of the main concerns is a chemical called Triclosan. This is the one that has been shown to affect hormones in animals. Also, this is the one thought to help the bacteria get strong and become resistant to antibiotics. This chemical is used in pesticides along with a host of consumer products. So it seems as if we are being exposed to a lot of it — all the time. So the FDA has decided to have it taken out of the soap.
In addition to Triclosan, there are eighteen other chemicals used in antibacterial soap that are being banned. The documents states:
“SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, we, or the Agency) is issuing this final rule establishing that certain active ingredients used in over-the-counter (OTC) consumer antiseptic products intended for use with water (referred to throughout this document as consumer antiseptic washes) are not generally recognized as safe and effective (GRAS/GRAE) and are misbranded.”
It appears as if the manufacturers of such products have about a year to comply. But according to many things I have read on the internet many manufacturers are beginning to make the changes now. Could be they are just changing the labels, I mean who really knows with this stuff, right? Not every product is tested. I imagine if making the product without these chemicals is less expensive then with, then yeah, they will change their recipes eventually, since consumers are now being told they are on the non-GRAS list.
So what do you think about this? What do you think about antibacterial soap?
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Ann Coleman said
Kind of scary to me, because at the animal shelter where I volunteer, we use anti-bacterial gel all the time!
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terrepruitt said
Scary because they banned it and you won’t get to use it any longer? Or scary because if the FDA bans it is must be pretty bad?
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Bun Karyudo said
Personally, I think banning it is probably the right move. I know bacterial resistance is becoming a real problem and will cause huge problems for people all over the world unless action is taken now. It’s just my two cents, of course, but you did ask. 🙂
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terrepruitt said
Right, I did ask. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Another thing that I’ve heard many people do, that causes resistance is not taking the full dose of antibiotics. People take only have of the prescription and once they start feeling better they stop and that allows the bacteria to adjust and grow and become resistant. Are you concerned with the evidence that these types of chemicals are shown to disrupt hormones or just the bacteria?
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Bun Karyudo said
I’ve actually nagged family members about that very thing in the past! I’m not very knowledgeable about such issues, but I do try to take an interest and do what (very) little I can.
As for hormones, well I did once read a book called “The Feminization of Nature” about the topic. It was very good, in a scary kind of way, and I’ve been a little suspicious of plastic cups and wrappers ever since. 😀
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terrepruitt said
I think it is difficult to be very knowledgeable about such issues because we (the general public) don’t get a lot of the information. And the information that we do get is slanted so we get the information in a way that it might not be the whole truth. That is my belief. So good for you in trying to learn what you can and do what you can.
Unfortunately, I think there is reason to be “suspicious” of pretty much everything in the modern world. Our food stuffs, our electronics, our food storage devices, our air, our “news” . . . and then all we can do is the best we can. Right?
So I Googled the book and looked it up on Amazon and it says, “Have we traded our future for the products of modern life?” some what what I was saying. I don’t think we have traded our FUTURE, but perhaps our HEALTH. But not everyone sees it that way. And the rest of the description is VERY interesting. Hmmmmm . . . .
Thanks for reading and commenting. I love “talking” with commenters and fellow-bloggers!
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