Is It Antibacterial Soap Effective to Kill Germs?
Hopefully you never forget to always wash your hands after using the toilet, before eating, before preparing food, and after sneezing. If you have been relying on extra protection from antibacterial soap all this time, you might be surprised to learn that these products actually do not offer specific prevention against germs. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the sale of soaps that contain certain antibacterial chemicals, because the manufacturers of these products have not proven that the products are safe for long-term use or are more effective than water and ordinary soap. The FDA action includes 19 chemicals which are ingredients in about 40 percent soap, including liquid hand soap and bar soap. The most common chemicals are triclosan, which is mostly used in liquid soap, and triclocarban, the material used in bar soap. According to the FDA, some data show that from time to time, antibacterial chemicals may have more harm than good. Research shows that lo