The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finally told manufacturers they can no longer put triclosan in consumer soaps.
The FDA says antibacterial do little or nothing to make soap work any better and the industry has failed to prove they are safe.
Manufacturers have one year to comply.
Triclosan is still allowed as an antibacterial in other consumer products.
NBC News: FDA Orders Antibacterials Removed From Consumer Soaps
Listen to these shows on Toxic Free Talk Radio about antibacterials:
TOXIC FREE TALK RADIO: How Antibiotics and Antibacterials are Compromising Our Health
TOXIC FREE TALK RADIO: The Dangers of Antimicrobials and How to Choose Products Without Them
Ingredient for my hand sanitiser is 62% Ethyl alcohol (organic). Is it okay? Is absorbing alcohol through the skin harmful to the liver?
Here is more information about organic ethyl alcohol.
But as far as your liver is concerned, alcohol is alcohol. You are probably absorbing less in a dab of hand sanitizer than drinking an alcoholic beverage. It’s all part of your overall exposure.
Hi Debra, I was reading your ‘Toxic Free’ book and you mentioned dangers of lye. Soaps I buy from the local health store is made from organic virgin coconut oil, rainwater, lye (made in Papua New Guinea) and am concerned about lye in my soaps? Should I avoid them? Thanks in advance.
Got a response from the soap manufacturer… 🙂
‘You dont need to worry about the Lye – it is natural and safe and is an ingredient when making the soap.
The Lye (NaOH) and the coconut oil react to form glycerine and soap. Glycerine is a natural emolient that softens and moisturises the skin. Once the saponification is complete there is actually no lye in the soap. It is used to make soap by undergoing a chemical reaction.
Our soap is very gentle on the skin and we get vast amounts of correspondence from people to say that they love our soap because they have sensitive skin and cant tolerate other products. You can google our products to verify – even Amazon, UK!’
No need to avoid lye in soaps. When combined with fat it forms glycerine and disappears completely.
But lye sold as drain cleaner is very dangerous. It’s corrosive to your skin.
I am very happy to read this. I can remember when it was being added to air filters and humidifiers too. Maybe they will stop it completely.
More info on the FDA ban from Lara Adler
Triclosan & triclocarban have been used in countless products to render them supposedly “antibacterial”. In 2013 the FDA required companies who used these products to prove that they were both safe and effective.
Triclosan is a suspected endocrine disrupting chemical that messes with our hormones, is associated with thyroid disruption, and muscle weakness.
Like everything else in our antibacterial-craze, some studies suggest that residential use of this chemical can lead to antibiotic resistance.
The FDA found, not surprisingly, that plain old soap and water is just as effective at reducing the spread of bacteria, so…. triclosan is OUT.
Companies have 1 year to remove these chemicals from their products or remove products from the market.
So what’s the “sort of”?
1. The ban only applies to consumer products. These chemicals can still be used in hospital and food service settings.
2. The ban only applies to hand soaps and body washes.
3. The ban doesn’t officially include hand sanitizers… these typically use alcohol, but some use triclosan. The FDA has given manufacturers a year to safety and efficacy.
4. You can still find triclosan in toothpastes, deodorants, make up, shave gels, and even first-aid products.
I’ve been teaching about triclosan for 5 years now, so while I’m thrilled that it will no longer be used in hand soaps, sanitizers and body washes, I’m stopping short of fully patting the FDA on the back since it’s still permitted for use in thousands of other products we use every day.
I haven’t listened to the radio show yet, but I just wanted to tell you that last night on HSN, they were selling a pillow (for sleeping) and said it was treated with antimicrobials and I was horrified – just couldn’t believe that antimicrobials would be put in a pillow that someone’s head is lying on!!
Yes, I’m horrified too.