Antibacterial soaps come under FDA scrutiny
Dec-19-2013

Soaps and body washes that are labeled "antibacterial" have now come under fire by the Food and Drug Administration, as the government agency has submitted a proposed rule that will require manufacturers of such products to prove they are safe for long-term use.

As part of a larger review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), manufacturers will also need to show how their products are more effective at preventing illness and the spread of infection than ordinary soap and water.

If such companies are unable to meet these requirements, they will need to reformulate or relabel their products, in order to keep them on the market.

"Antibacterial soaps and body washes are used widely and frequently by consumers in everyday home, work, school, and public settings, where the risk of infection is relatively low," says Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER).

"Due to consumers' extensive exposure to the ingredients in antibacterial soaps, we believe there should be a clearly demonstrated benefit from using antibacterial soap to balance any potential risk," she adds.

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