FDA Orders Ban On Antibacterial Soaps, Saying They Might Do More Harm Than Good

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) —  The Food and Drug Administration ordered antibacterial soaps off store shelves within a year.

On Friday, the FDA said the soaps not only are no better than regular soap, but that many of them contained products -- namely triclosan and triclocarban -- that might do more harm than good.

KCAL9's Jennifer Kastner spoke to fans of the brands Friday in Pasadena, and they were disheartened by the news.

"You know,  it's a shame there's so many things that we use and even consume, you know. It's hard to trust," said one man.

"I think the public needs to be a little more educated about what they use in their system. It's not just soap. It's anything," said another man.

The FDA ruling applies to over-the-counter soap products that have one of 19 active ingredients. Triclosan is found in liquid products, triclocarban found in bars.

The FDA points to new data that suggests long-term exposure to these chemicals could cause hormonal problems or resistance to bacteria.

Dali Yu runs the Soap Kitchen in downtown Pasadena. She is an advocate for organic cleansers. In fact, she and her team have perfected recipes free from any hazardous chemicals.

"So people know more and more, are aware of what they're putting on their skin just as much as they're aware of what they're putting in their mouth and eating so you do want to try to keep your products, your health and beauty products as natural as possible," Yu said.

The ban takes effect in a year. It covers antibacterial soap and washes that are rinsed off with water. It does not apply to hand sanitizers, wipes or products used in healthcare settings.

The FDA said the best way to prevent the spread of germs is still using plain soap and water.