FDA to decide antibacterial soap’s safety, effectiveness: 5 insights

In September, the FDA will announce whether the manufacturing and marketing companies of antibacterial soap have effectively demonstrated their safety and effectiveness over plain soap and water in preventing illness, according to Wall Street Journal.

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Here are five insights:

1. If the FDA deems antibacterial soaps unsafe and/or ineffective, the companies will be forced to reformulate the products and remove claims from their labels.

2. The agency plans to review hand sanitizers and will consider its separation rules for food-process workers.

3. While antibacterial soaps have been used for years, a lack of data exists linking the soaps to human health outcomes.

4. Some research suggests antibacterial soaps are contributing to the creation of antibiotic-resistant super bugs.

5. The $30 billion cleaning-products industry anxiously awaits the FDA review, which will analyze 22 chemicals. The industry maintains the products are safe and more effective than regular soap.

More articles on quality & infection control:
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