FDA Asks How Safe Is That Hand Sanitizer?
June 27, 2016
By Margaret Farley Steele
Agency wants proof the products kill bacteria and are harmless over time. Millions of Americans use hand sanitizers every day, believing they safely kill bacteria. Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration wants to find out if that's really true.
The agency Wednesday requested makers of antibacterial hand sanitizers and related products to provide data showing the products' active ingredients actually reduce bacteria and are harmless over time.
Of particular concern are the long-term effects of these sanitizers on pregnant women and children, the agency said.
"These products provide a convenient alternative when hand washing with plain soap and water is unavailable, but it's our responsibility to determine whether these products are safe and effective so that consumers can be confident when using them on themselves and their families multiple times a day," Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in an agency news release.