Triclosan

Triclosan is an ingredient added to many consumer products to reduce or prevent bacterial contamination. This product can be found in clothing, kitchenware, toys, antibacterial soaps and body washes, toothpaste and some cosmetics.

Triclosan is a sanitizer. It will kill “many” germs that it comes into contact with. Triclosan is not a soap. Soap is a surfactant designed to help remove dirt from surfaces. When dirt and oils are removed from surfaces like your skin, the germs attached to that dirt or oil are washed away. Regular soap does not kill germs, but will help remove germs from surfaces. A soap or toothpaste with triclosan will clean and disinfect at the same time.

If you want to know if triclosan is in a product, check the label for the list of active ingredients. If triclosan is in the product, it will be listed. The wording will be either triclosan or triclocarban.

There is some concern about the safety of this product. Animal studies have shown that triclosan can alter hormone regulation. Studies with bacteria have shown that bacteria can develop resistance to this chemical. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has, however, concluded that there is no evidence that triclosan is hazardous to humans when used in over-the-counter ‘drugs’ like soaps, body washes and toothpaste. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the use of chemicals and sanitizers and is working with the FDA to consider the safety of triclosan.

The public health community is concerned over the proliferation of antibacterial products containing triclosan. If harmful bacteria develop resistance to triclosan, it becomes more difficult to treat diseases. Public health officials urge consumers to limit the use of triclosan-containing products unless there is a medical reason to do so.

For more information visit Food Safety and Health www.foodsafety.wisc.edu for a link to FDA information as well as a summary fact sheet (check out the A-Z) index

• A – Antibacterial Products
• Common Sense Talk about Antibacterial Products

Information provide by Dr. Barbara Ingham, Associate Professor & Extension Specialist University of Wisconsin-Madison