Minnesota Disregards FDA and Issues Ban on Antibacterial Ingredient

Triclosan is one of the most prevalent antibacterial compounds found in various products, including toothpastes, cosmetics, antibacterial soaps, and body washes. Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton issued a ban on triclosan starting in 2017.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, triclosan has been found in consumer products for over 30 years, but that doesn't seem to faze Governor Dayton. He is most likely concerned with previous studies that have shown triclosan is associated with antibiotic resistance, which is currently a global issue.

The signed law reads, "In order to prevent the spread of infectious disease and avoidable infections and to promote best practices in sanitation, no person shall offer for retail sale in Minnesota any cleaning product that contains triclosan and is used by consumers for sanitizing or hand and body cleansing."

The FDA has acknowledged the potential risks of triclosan and actually proposed a new rule in December that would require manufacturers of anti-biotic soap and body wash to prove how their product is more effective in preventing illness and spreading disease than basic soap and water as well as safety of long term use.

The move away from triclosan is not new. Johnson & Johnson plans to eliminate the compound from all its consumer products by next year and Procter & Gamble plans to do the same this year. In fact, Procter & Gamble is already marketing their toothpaste as "triclosan-free." Governor Mark Dayton and Minnesota are the first to issue a ban on the compound, but it won't be effective until January 1, 2017.

The FDA actually proposed to eliminate triclosan from all consumer products back in 1978, but there was no final ruling on the matter, most likely because manufacturers didn't want to revamp their products since it would cost them a lot of money. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is currently pressuring the FDA on triclosan after suing them in 2010 due to the fact that they never issued a final ruling on their proposal from 1978.

"This is a good first step toward getting unsafe triclosan off the market," said Mae Wu, an attorney in NRDC's health program, in this NRDC news release from December. "FDA is finally taking concerns about triclosan seriously. Washing your hands with soap containing triclosan doesn't make them cleaner than using regular soap and water and can carry potential health risks."