FDA Halts Sale of Antibacterial Soaps

Certain ingredients within the soaps have not been proved safe and effective.

The Food and Drug Administration is halting the sale of some antibacterial soaps.  The FDA has said they do little or nothing to help prevent illness or reduce the spread of infections.

Companies will have a year to remove triclosan and similar chemicals from hand and body wash products.  The ruling does not affect alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

All the way back in 2001, a study by Eli Perencevich and colleagues found that 76% of liquid soaps on the market contained some kind of antibacterial agent.

According to the FDA, washing with plain soap and water is just as effective.