Is the Tide Turning on Triclosan?

Triclosan – a man-made antibacterial found in many soaps and sanitizers – has, perhaps, seen more encouraging days. While its use in all kinds of antibacterial consumer products continues to grow (think toothpastes, cutting boards, socks), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) questioning of the substance also seems to be expanding. That is to say that according to an article in last week’s Washington Post , the FDA responded to an inquiry about the chemical from U.S. Congressman Edward J. Markey by saying that recent research raises "valid concerns" about triclosan’s health effects (hormone-system disruption, bacterial resistance) and that the chemical is getting a renewed look.

On the day the above article was published, the FDA also posted a new Consumer Update titled “Triclosan: What Consumers Should Know”. Within this, it was noted that the “FDA does not have evidence that triclosan added to antibacterial soaps and body washes provides extra health benefits over soap and water”. The FDA’s review is slated to become public next spring.

Did you know? Triclosan has been found in 76% of liquid soaps and 29% of bar soaps in the U.S. according to this American Journal of Infection Control article by Perencevich, Wong, and Harris.

Did you also know? Triclosan has been found in almost 75% of the 2,517 Americans tested by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between 2003-2004 according to this CDC webpage.