Say goodbye to antibacterial soaps
In the 1966 campy TV romp "It's About Time," two astronauts, Mac and Hector (Frank Aletter and Jack Mullaney), travel back in time and meet cave-dwellers Shad (Imogene Coca) and Gronk (Joe E. Ross). The 26 episodes are mostly remembered for the theme song: "It's about time, it's about space, about two men in the strangest place," written by the "Gilligan's Island" folks.
Well, we had another "it's about time" moment a few days ago, when the Food and Drug Administration handed down its final ruling on the inclusion of triclosans and other antibacterials in consumer products. We've been railing against their use for years! Soap and water washes off bad bacteria very effectively, with no potential for disrupting thyroid and reproductive hormones or fueling antibiotic resistance.
So what's the FDA's final word? It says, "certain active ingredients used in over-the-counter consumer antiseptic products intended for use with water (... consumer antiseptic washes) are not generally recognized as safe and effective and are misbranded." Strong stuff.
The ruling applies to consumer soaps and cleaners containing one or more of 19 specific active ingredients, including triclosan and triclocarban. The ruling does not cover consumer hand sanitizers and wipes (they're usually alcohol-based and safe) or antibacterial products used in hospitals and other health-care settings, where they are needed.
But the bad-guy ingredients aren't banished until Sept. 6, 2017! So keep reading those labels, and remember to wash hands with soap and water, and do it for as long as it takes you to sing "Happy Birthday to You!"
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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