FDA Finally Says 'No' to Antibacterial Soaps

Consumer Reports / Lauren Cooper / September 02, 2016

Here's why—and the products to watch out for

The Food and Drug Administration is banning the sale of antibacterial soaps and body washes after manufacturers failed to prove that the products’ active ingredients are safe and effective.

“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. “In fact, some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long term.”

The ban applies to products containing 19 antibacterial ingredients, including the two most common ones: triclosan, which is found in liquid soaps, and triclocarban, found in bar soaps. Manufacturers have until Sept. 6, 2017 to either reformulate products with any of those 19 ingredients or remove them from the market.  

The ban does not apply to other products containing those ingredients, including toothpastes and cleaning products. And it doesn't apply to antiseptic hand cleaners such as Germ-X and Purell, which typically contain alcohol and related compounds and don't pose the same risks.

The Dangers

Consumer Reports has long argued that antibacterial chemicals in household products likely do more harm than good.

“These chemicals could be contributing to the global crisis of antibiotic resistance," said Michael Hansen, Ph.D, senior staff scientist at Consumer Reports.

Triclosan, for example, kills bacteria in much the same way as an antibiotic, and research suggests that the widespread use of it might be contributing to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

“Some bacteria are close to evolving resistance to all antibiotics as a result of the overuse of antibiotics—a dangerous situation that could lead to deaths from once easily treated infections,” Hansen said. "These products and these ingredients may just make the problem worse."

Antibacterial compounds in consumer cleaning products might pose other health risks, too.

“There is evidence that exposure to triclosan interferes with the production and activity of hormones in the body, which could contribute to infertility, early puberty, obesity, and other problems,” said Marvin M. Lipman, M.D., Consumer Reports chief medical advisor.

“And with little evidence that they are more effective than soap and water, they are not worth the risk,” Lipman said. “When it comes to fighting disease, hand washing is key, but using regular soap and water does the job," he said.

When soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer such as Germ-X and Purell is OK. (Click on www.consumerreports.org/health/fda-says-no-antibacterial-soap to watch the video on the most effective hand washing technique.) 

Products to Avoid

Manufacturers have a full year to reformulate or remove their antibacterial soaps, and they can continue to sell antibacterial toothpastes and cleaners. But Consumer Reports health and safety experts say you should avoid them, starting now.

We found triclosan listed as an ingredient in Noxzema Ultimate Clear Bacteria Fighting Cleanser, Dial Complete Antibacterial Foaming Hand Wash, and CVS Antibacterial Gentle Cleansing bar, as well as in Colgate Total toothpaste. And we found triclocarban listed on Dial For Men Power Scrub soap bar, Rite Aid Renewal Antibacterial Gold deodorant soap, and others.

Those and other banned antibacterial ingredients are also included in many household cleaners. So avoid products that have an "antibacterial" claim on their label, or that contain any of these newly banned chemicals:

• Cloflucarban
• Fluorosalan
• Hexachlorophene
• Hexylresorcinol
• Iodine complex (ammonium ether sulfate and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate)
• Iodine complex (phosphate ester of alkylaryloxy polyethylene glycol)
• Nonylphenoxypoly (ethyleneoxy) ethanoliodine
• Poloxamer-iodine complex
• Povidone-iodine 5 to 10 percent
• Undecoylium chloride iodine complex
• Methylbenzethonium chloride
• Phenol (greater than 1.5 percent)
• Phenol (less than 1.5 percent)
• Secondary amyltricresols
• Sodium oxychlorosene
• Tribromsalan
• Triclocarban
• Triclosan
• Triple dye

Tips for a Safe Halloween

'Lucky 13' Tips for a Safe Halloween

Whether you’re goblin or ghoul, vampire or witch, poor costume choices—including decorative contact lenses and flammable costumes—and face paint allergies can haunt you long after Halloween if they cause injury.

Enjoy a safe and happy Halloween by following the “lucky 13” guidelines from FDA, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

1. Wear costumes made of fire-retardant materials; look for “flame resistant” on the label. If you make your costume, use flame-resistant fabrics such as polyester or nylon.
2. Wear bright, reflective costumes or add strips of reflective tape so you’ll be more visible; make sure the costumes aren’t so long that you’re in danger of tripping.
3. Wear makeup and hats rather than masks that can obscure your vision.
4. Test the makeup you plan to use by putting a small amount on the arm of the person who will be wearing it a couple of days in advance. If a rash, redness, swelling, or other signs of irritation develop where the makeup was applied, that's a sign of a possible allergy.
5. Check FDA’s list of color additives to see if makeup additives are FDA approved. If they aren’t approved for their intended use, don’t use it.
6. Don’t wear decorative contact lenses unless you have seen an eye care professional and gotten a proper lens fitting and instructions for using the lenses.

Safe Treats

Eating sweet treats is also a big part of the fun on Halloween. If you’re trick-or-treating, health and safety experts say you should remember these tips:

7. Don’t eat candy until it has been inspected at home.
8. Trick-or-treaters should eat a snack before heading out, so they won’t be tempted to nibble on treats that haven’t been inspected.
9. Tell children not to accept—or eat—anything that isn’t commercially wrapped.
10. Parents of very young children should remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys.
11. Inspect commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers. Throw away anything that looks suspicious.

For party goers and party throwers, FDA recommends the following tips for two seasonal favorites:

12. Look for the warning label to avoid juice that hasn’t been pasteurized or otherwise processed, especially packaged juice products that may have been made on site. When in doubt, ask! Always ask if you are unsure if a juice product is pasteurized or not. Normally, the juice found in your grocer’s frozen food case, refrigerated section, or on the shelf in boxes, bottles, or cans is pasteurized.
13. Before bobbing for apples—a favorite Halloween game—reduce the amount of bacteria that might be on apples by thoroughly rinsing them under cool running water. As an added precaution, use a produce brush to remove surface dirt.

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Eye Safety

FDA joins eye care professionals—including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists and the American Optometric Association—in discouraging consumers from using decorative contact lenses.

These experts warn that buying any kind of contact lenses without an examination and a prescription from an eye care professional can cause serious eye disorders and infections, which may lead to permanent vision loss. Despite the fact that it’s illegal to sell decorative contact lenses without a valid prescription, FDA says the lenses are sold on the Internet and in retail shops and salons—particularly around Halloween.

The decorative lenses make the wearer’s eyes appear to glow in the dark, create the illusion of vertical “cat eyes,” or change the wearer’s eye color.

"Although unauthorized use of decorative contact lenses is a concern year-round, Halloween is the time when people may be inclined to use them, perhaps as costume accessories," says FDA eye expert Bernard Lepri, O.D., M.S., M.Ed.. "What troubles us is when they are bought and used without a valid prescription, without the involvement of a qualified eye care professional, or without appropriate follow-up care. This can lead to significant risks of eye injuries, including blindness."

This article appears on FDA's Consumer Updates page, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.

Posted October 19, 2011; reviewed October 24, 2013