Triclosan's Ban by FDA Will Protect Consumers

WASHINGTON – The Food and Drug Administration's ban of triclosan in some antiseptic wash products will afford consumers significantly greater health protections, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Following is a statement by Mae Wu, senior attorney in the Health Program at NRDC:

"Consumers have waited a long time for this sensible safeguard. Banning triclosan in these products is a huge step toward ensuring that the soaps we use every day on our bodies are safer. But FDA also needs to act quickly to ascertain the safety of at least two other chemicals (benzalkonium chloride and benzethonium chloride) in these products that are suspected of posing serious health risks. Consumers must never be treated as guinea pigs.''

Triclosan is an antibacterial agent which has been shown to alter hormone function and disrupt muscle function.

Background on this issue in two blogs:
By Mae Wu: https://www.nrdc.org/experts/mae-wu/it-swan-song-triclosan

By Kristi Pullen Fedinick, staff scientist in NRDC's Health Program: https://www.nrdc.org/experts/kristi-pullen/just-below-surface-hidden-side-triclosan

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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 2 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City; Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Chicago; Bozeman, Montana; and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.