US health regulator The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)1 has warned that antibacterial ingredients in soaps may pose health risks.
The FDA has proposed a rule requiring manufacturers to prove soaps making antibacterial claims are safe and more effective against infection than plain soap and water. This new FDA proposal is based on recent scientific studies indicating an ingredient in such products could scramble hormone levels and build the capacity of bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics.
The proposal does not apply to hand sanitisers, mouthwash or other antibacterial medicinal products. According to the FDA, manufacturers have until the end of 2014 to submit the results of clinical trials on their products, with its aim being to finalise and implement the new regulations in 2016.
No more effective than plain soap and water?
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