In response to Representative Edward J. Markey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, regarding the status of ongoing review of triclosan in consumer products the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said there is no sufficient safety evidence to recommend changing consumer use of products that contain triclosan at this time.
However, the Washington Post reported that the FDA also added that “recent scientific studies raise questions about whether triclosan disrupts the body’s endocrine system and whether it helps to create bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics”.
The FDA explains on its website that, in light of animal studies raising questions about triclosan’s safety, the agency is engaged in an ongoing scientific review to incorporate the most up-to-date data and information about triclosan and that it will communicate the findings of its review to the public in spring 2011.
“For some consumer products, there is clear evidence that triclosan provides a benefit. For other consumer products, FDA has not received evidence that the triclosan provides an extra benefit to health. At this time, the agency does not have evidence that triclosan in antibacterial soaps and body washes provides any benefit over washing with regular soap and water,” the agency says.
An advisory panel to the FDA said in 2005 that there was no evidence the antibacterial soaps work better than regular soap and water.
