Antibacterial soaps are quickly gaining popularity among masses, as they are marketed to be effective against fighting germs. However, health experts say otherwise as they do more harm than good.
This has led the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) USA, to ban the antibacterial soaps from the US market on Friday, reported The Guardian.
“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,” she said in a statement. “In fact, some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long term,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) in a statement.
The FDA was of the view that antibacterial soaps manufacturers had failed to show either the safety of “long-term daily use” or that the products were “more effective than plain soap and water in preventing illness and the spread of certain infections”.
As per Cronkite News, Potential health risks of these ingredients include bacterial resistance, hormonal imbalances and increased chance of cancer, according to Arizona State University researcher Rolf Halden.
The FDA ruling suggests sticking to washing your hands with the good old soap and plain water.
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