Hey germaphobes

[Deleted]

What now, clean freaks?

FDA proposes ban on antibacterial soaps


The US Food and Drug Administration announced a proposed regulation on Monday to ban certain ingredients in anti-bacterial soaps if manufacturers cannot prove that these products are safe to use and more effective than plain soap and water for preventing the spread of infections. Such a move will likely force makers of personal hygiene products to reformulate all bar soaps, liquid soaps, body washes, and dishwashing liquids labeled as “anti-bacterial” and “antimicrobial” to keep them on store shelves.



Antibacterial soaps made by companies including Dial, Lever, and Dove contain chemicals that have a spotty safety record. “Some data suggest that long-term exposure to certain active ingredients used in antibacterial products—for example, triclosan (liquid soaps) and triclocarban (bar soaps)—could pose health risks, such as bacterial resistance or hormonal effects,” according to a statement released by the FDA.



Almost all soaps labeled “antibacterial” or “antimicrobial” contain at least one of the antibacterial ingredients that the FDA is proposing to ban. Household cleaning products and some toothpastes may also contain them.



Liquid hand sanitizers, such as Purell, and anti-bacterial wipes do not contain the worrisome ingredients. These “leave on” products contain alcohol to kill germs and aren’t affected by the planned regulation, according to the FDA.



“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,” said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “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.”



Manufaturers will have about six months to respond to the planned regulation, which likely won’t be implemented for at least a year. For now, the FDA recommends using plain soap and water to wash hands and to avoid using antibacterial soaps, which will remain on the market for now. If soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol should be used.

www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/blogs/daily-dose/2013/12/16/fda-proposes-ban-antibacterial-soaps/Wc3XVpOHAmcXZQBmtpDsvN/blog.html

[orangeblossom]

Didn't read the article, but they should. They do more harm than good.

ETA: went back and read it, opinion is still the same.

[Deleted]

I'm in agreement! At first I was worried about the rub-on stuff, mostly for the healthcare fields and stuff like that (actual hand washing is of course preferred but I like seeing nurses use that stuff before putting on gloves, even though I also sympathize for their hands).

[eddy]

We only use the anti-bacterial soap when we have an active bug in our house in effort to protect us the parents. We keept in the closet and just pull it out.

Othewise plain soap for us.

This is one of those subjects I like to beat my war drumb too. Every day germs are good!

[MWOS]

I'm a huge fan of bacteria, so this is good news

[snickers]

Is the point of washing your hands more so to scrub the germs off? The soap doesn't actually neautralize the germs or kill them anyways.

[rex]

I was reading this yesterday! I was also reading about hand sanitizers too though.

I use hypoallergenic soap, no anti-bacterial.

[MWOS]

Dec 16, 2013 12:01:49 GMT -5 snickers said:

Is the point of washing your hands more so to scrub the germs off? The soap doesn't actually neautralize the germs or kill them anyways.

LOL whut?

the detergent in regular soap breaks open the bacteria's cell membrane, killing the germ.

[snickers]

Dec 16, 2013 12:17:46 GMT -5 MWOS said:

Dec 16, 2013 12:01:49 GMT -5 snickers said:

Is the point of washing your hands more so to scrub the germs off? The soap doesn't actually neautralize the germs or kill them anyways.

LOL whut?

the detergent in regular soap breaks open the bacteria's cell membrane, killing the germ.

Well not all germs, at least.
eta: I should mention I am a germaphobe only when it comes to norwalk and gastro viruses
Soap does not touch those germs.

[MWOS]

Dec 16, 2013 12:18:41 GMT -5 snickers said:

Dec 16, 2013 12:17:46 GMT -5 MWOS said:

LOL whut?

the detergent in regular soap breaks open the bacteria's cell membrane, killing the germ.

Well not all germs, at least.

what germs are you talking about

[snickers]

Dec 16, 2013 12:19:52 GMT -5 MWOS said:

Dec 16, 2013 12:18:41 GMT -5 snickers said:

Well not all germs, at least.

what germs are you talking about

Opps I eta'd after you read it.

eta: I should mention I am a germaphobe only when it comes to norwalk and gastro viruses
Soap does not touch those germs.

Read more: pandce.proboards.com/thread/266448/hey-germaphobes?page=1&scrollTo=4914845#ixzz2newduYfp

[MWOS]

Dec 16, 2013 12:18:41 GMT -5 snickers said:

Dec 16, 2013 12:17:46 GMT -5 MWOS said:

LOL whut?

the detergent in regular soap breaks open the bacteria's cell membrane, killing the germ.

Well not all germs, at least.
eta: I should mention I am a germaphobe only when it comes to norwalk and gastro viruses
Soap does not touch those germs.

from the CDC:

Practice proper hand hygiene

Wash your hands carefully with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and changing diapers and always before eating or preparing food. If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. These alcohol-based products can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but they are not a substitute for washing with soap and water.

[snickers]

Dec 16, 2013 12:21:20 GMT -5 MWOS said:

Dec 16, 2013 12:18:41 GMT -5 snickers said:

Well not all germs, at least.
eta: I should mention I am a germaphobe only when it comes to norwalk and gastro viruses
Soap does not touch those germs.

from the CDC:

Practice proper hand hygiene

Wash your hands carefully with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and changing diapers and always before eating or preparing food. If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. These alcohol-based products can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but they are not a substitute for washing with soap and water.

Yes but for norwalk viruses it is the scrubbing action that removes the virus, the soap does not neutralize it. You are essentially washing the virus down the drain to get rid of it.

[snickers]

Dec 16, 2013 12:25:50 GMT -5 nursecramer said:

Dec 16, 2013 12:22:43 GMT -5 snickers said:

Yes but for norwalk viruses it is the scrubbing action that removes the virus, the soap does not neutralize it. You are essentially washing the virus down the drain to get rid of it.

Newsflash: Antibiotics do not kill viruses.

lol, what?
I know that, but I don't get what it has to do with gastro?

[bania]

Cool beans. Regular soap is just fine. I use the anti-bacterial soaps from B&BW but that's because they smell delicious, not for the anti-bacterial properties.

[wambam]

I'm all for this.

[snickers]

Dec 16, 2013 12:28:56 GMT -5 bania said:

Cool beans. Regular soap is just fine. I use the anti-bacterial soaps from B&BW but that's because they smell delicious, not for the anti-bacterial properties.

I love B&BW soaps!
They smell so yummy!

[MWOS]

this thread was about antibacterial soap which only kills bacteria, not viruses, so I was assuming you were talking about bacteria. Viruses are a whole different ballgame.

[snickers]

Dec 16, 2013 12:31:10 GMT -5 MWOS said:

this thread was about antibacterial soap which only kills bacteria, not viruses, so I was assuming you were talking about bacteria. Viruses are a whole different ballgame.

I only care about puke germs, it's a sad sad story, really, lol.

[stephm0188]

I am a-ok with this.

[snickers]

Dec 16, 2013 12:32:59 GMT -5 romymichele said:

I'm not sure what kind of hand soap I'm currently using. I just buy what is on sale.

Between this and soy, I'll either be dead in a year. Or glow in the dark from all the chemicals.

I totally have a similar Grinch on my front lawn, and a cindy lou, and a max, lol!