Mr. Clean rejected by hand wringing scientists!
Okay the headline is not exactly on point, but it sounded good. Today's Science news includes the story which follows. The report that antibacterial doesn't mean healthier isn't really a surprise. And the possibility that almost universal use of low grade antibacterial products will just help the meaner and more durable germs to evolve has been raised for a long time. I'm personally glad to see the subject getting some visibility in a public forum. But I think the specific case highlights a bigger issue. Do we have antibacterial soaps and other products because scientists reported that it would make the world more disease free? Do we have these products because the public was clamoring for something more effective than regular soap and hot water? NO! We have these products because the companies who make soaps and related products decided that they needed to identify a 'marketing edge' for their products to make them stand out as 'better'. Before long, all the products were incorporating this extra characteristic to stay competitive. Is it even possible to buy dish soap or hand soap that's not antibacterial? Examination of the marketplace would surface thousands of examples of this sort of product manipulation to "refresh" products in the eyes of consumers and to make them believe that the added ingredient is important. Truly, there are instances when innovation, new discoveries, or some individual's 'eureka' leads to a genuine improvement in what we're being sold. But more often than not, changes are at best, insignificant, and at worst, harmful. The "build better bacteria" element of antibacterial soaps isn't mentioned anywhere in the sales material- not even in fine print.
By JOHN J. LUMPKIN Associated Press Writer
SILVER SPRING, Md. Oct 20, 2005 — Antibacterial soaps and body washes in the household aren't any more effective in reducing illness than regular soap, and could potentially contribute to bacterial resistance to antibiotics, experts told a government advisory panel Thursday.
The independent panel, the Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee, advises the Food and Drug Administration. Panelists were to vote later Thursday whether they believed such soaps provided any benefits above regular soap for people outside of health care.
The FDA is not bound by their decisions but often follows their advice. The agency has the authority to add warning labels to or restrict the availability of such soaps and related items, but it has given no indication any such ruling is imminent.
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Experts Refute Anti-Bacterial Soap Claims
Representatives of the soap industry argue antibacterials are safe and more effective than regular soap.
"The importance of controlling bacteria in the home is no different than the professional setting," said Elizabeth Anderson, associate general counsel for the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association. "We feel strongly that consumers must continue to have the choice to use these products."
In documents, FDA officials have raised concerns about whether the antibacterials contribute to the growth of drug-resistant bacteria, and said the agency has not found any medical studies that definitively linked specific anti-bacterial products to reduced infection rates.
The committee was told that "there's a lack of evidence that antiseptic soaps provide a benefit beyond plain soap," said Allison E. Aiello, an assistant professor at the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Michigan, citing a series of studies in the United States and Pakistan.
Both kinds of soaps reduced infections in households, but neither one worked better than the other, she said.
The popularity of antibacterials has skyrocketed in the last decade as consumers decided killing bacteria in the home was better than just washing them off.
By JOHN J. LUMPKIN Associated Press Writer
SILVER SPRING, Md. Oct 20, 2005 — Antibacterial soaps and body washes in the household aren't any more effective in reducing illness than regular soap, and could potentially contribute to bacterial resistance to antibiotics, experts told a government advisory panel Thursday.
The independent panel, the Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee, advises the Food and Drug Administration. Panelists were to vote later Thursday whether they believed such soaps provided any benefits above regular soap for people outside of health care.
The FDA is not bound by their decisions but often follows their advice. The agency has the authority to add warning labels to or restrict the availability of such soaps and related items, but it has given no indication any such ruling is imminent.
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Experts Refute Anti-Bacterial Soap Claims
Representatives of the soap industry argue antibacterials are safe and more effective than regular soap.
"The importance of controlling bacteria in the home is no different than the professional setting," said Elizabeth Anderson, associate general counsel for the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association. "We feel strongly that consumers must continue to have the choice to use these products."
In documents, FDA officials have raised concerns about whether the antibacterials contribute to the growth of drug-resistant bacteria, and said the agency has not found any medical studies that definitively linked specific anti-bacterial products to reduced infection rates.
The committee was told that "there's a lack of evidence that antiseptic soaps provide a benefit beyond plain soap," said Allison E. Aiello, an assistant professor at the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Michigan, citing a series of studies in the United States and Pakistan.
Both kinds of soaps reduced infections in households, but neither one worked better than the other, she said.
The popularity of antibacterials has skyrocketed in the last decade as consumers decided killing bacteria in the home was better than just washing them off.
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