FDA bans key ingredients in antibacterial soap

A final rule in government regulation parlance from the Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA is banning the most common ingredients in anti-bacterial soaps — triclosan and triclocarban for the chemists among you. Not only is the FDA banning them, manufacturers have a year to phase them out.

But in a statement the agency said this:

“Consumers may think antibacterial washes are more effective at preventing the spread of germs, but we have no scientific evidence that they are any better than plain soap and water.”

In fact, it went on, some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long-term.