Do You Need Antibacterial Soap in Your Facility?

The hand soap landscape in restrooms and break rooms may be on the verge of change, and it’s essential to understand why.

In December 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) introduced a proposed rule that could reshape how we perceive and use antibacterial soap.

But what led to this proposal and what are the key concerns surrounding the use of antibacterial soap?

The FDA’s Scrutiny of Antibacterial Soap

The FDA’s proposed rule seeks to address several key issues regarding antibacterial soap:

• Effectiveness Over Plain Soap: The FDA asserts that there is currently no concrete evidence demonstrating that antibacterial soap is more effective than regular soap. 
• Chemical Concerns: Many antibacterial soaps contain triclosan (in liquid forms) or triclocarban (in bar soaps), chemicals associated with potential risks. These risks include bacterial resistance to antibiotics, which can hinder various medical treatments. Additionally, some studies suggest that triclosan might affect hormone activity in the human body.

According to Janet Woodcock, former director of the FDA’s Centre for Drug Evaluation and Research, there should be a clear and demonstrated benefit from using antibacterial soap to outweigh any potential risks, especially considering the extensive exposure consumers have to these ingredients in everyday settings.

Regulation of Triclosan

To address concerns surrounding triclosan and triclocarban, both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are collaborating to evaluate these substances rigorously.

The EPA is primarily concerned with triclosan as a pesticide, while the FDA focuses on its use in soaps.

This joint effort aims to comprehensively assess triclosan’s impact on health.

For now, Canada acknowledges the ecological risk but does not find any risk with regard to human exposure to triclosan.

However, triclosan has been vanishing from the Canadian marketplace, as scientists are finding more evidence that it might be more harmful than previously thought for both human and ecological health.

Antibacterial Soap Is Not Always Needed

If, in the future, triclosan and triclocarban are removed from the market, there’s no need for undue concern.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has always emphasized the effectiveness of traditional hand washing with plain soap and water in various situations, including:

• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the restroom
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
• After handling pet food or pet treats
• After touching the garbage

Proper Handwashing Is All You Need! 

Since the 1990s, the popularity of antibacterial soap has increased substantially because of home use, and this has raised important questions regarding its effectiveness and potential risks.

While regulatory bodies assess these concerns, traditional hand washing with regular soap and water remains a highly effective means of preventing the spread of germs and illnesses in various everyday scenarios.

Antibacterial soap is not a silver bullet and shouldn’t be toted as one. Ideally, you use a green cleaning plan which keeps your office or facility healthy. 

The most effective way for office and facility staff to stay healthy is to use proper handwashing protocol. 

Making the Right Choice

If you’re interested in learning more about our cleaning services, or if you are interested in having healthier cleaning options for your commercial space, contact Metropolitan today!