Although many antibacterial soaps are being phases out, washing with plain soap and water is just as effective.
A new federal rule has been published that will phase out nineteen commonly used antibacterial soap ingredients. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reassured consumers that there are still effective means of stopping the spread of germs and other foodborne pathogens. The rule comes after decades of mulling over the mandate. Companies will finally have a year to get the 19 ingredients out of their products.
Antibacterial Soaps
Triclosan and Triclocarban are the most common of the 19 ingredients that were banned. According to the FDA, “Companies will no longer be able to market antibacterial washes with these ingredients because manufacturers did not demonstrate that the ingredients are both safe for long-term daily use and more effective than plain soap and water in preventing illness and the spread of certain infections.” Some 40 percent of the soap products currently on the market have one or more of the banned ingredients.
The Ruling
Hand sanitizers or wipes that don’t require the use of water or products used in healthcare settings are exempt from the ruling. It will however apply to all liquid soaps, bar soaps, and body washes that are intended to be used with water and require rinsing.
Banned Ingredients
The FDA says that there is no scientific evidence to suggest that these chemicals are better than plain soap and water, and that some data even suggests they may do more harm than good in the long-term, such as bacterial resistance or hormonal effects. Here is the list of the 19 banned ingredients:
- Cloflucarban
- Fluorosalan
- Hexachlorophene
- Hexylresorcinol
- Iodophors
- Iodine complex
- Nonylphenoxypoly, ethyleneoxy, ethanoliodine
- Poloxamer
- Undecoylium chloride iodine complex
- Methylbenzethonium chloride
- Phenol
- Amyltricresols
- Sodium oxychlorosene
- Tribromsalan
- Triclocarban
- Triclosan
- Triple dye
Going Forward
These aren’t all the chemicals that the FDA has been looking into, however, and they have given the industry time to prove that some additional chemicals like benzalkonium chloride are safe and effective. The FDA recommends regular soap and water for cleaning hands, as it is just as effective for preventing the spread of germs as previously advertised antibacterial soaps.
Get Professional Cleanup with A 360 Cleaning
A 360 Cleaning has provided Maryland with top-notch professional cleaning and janitorial services for over 12 years. Our experience helps us understand exactly what you and your medical office needs. We don’t cut corners and ensure that every customer is satisfied with their cleaning. To explore how we can help keep your medical office clean and green this summer, give us a call at 410-852-5800 or visit us online. For more cleaning tips, follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn.
Tags: antibacterial soap, cleaning news, fda ban