Patient Safety Alert
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Patient Safety Alert
Ongoing Review of Triclosan
Citing concerns about the endocrine disrupting potential of the antimicrobial chemical triclosan, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA)—chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment—has called for a ban on many applications of triclosan. In response, the FDA has stated that it is engaged in an ongoing scientific review and does not yet have sufficient safety evidence to recommend changing consumer use of products that contain triclosan. For some consumer products, there is clear evidence that triclosan provides a benefit; however, 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. Updated consumer information is available on the FDA Web site at http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm205999.htm.