FDA Bans Antibacterial Ingredients From Soaps

WASHINGTON (CBS) – The Food and Drug Administration announced Friday that it is banning certain antibacterial ingredients from soaps and washes.

The final ruling from the FDA prohibits companies from marketing antiseptic wash products containing one or more of 19 ingredients. The order does not impact hand sanitizers or wipes.

"Consumers may think antibacterial washes are more effective at preventing the spread of germs, but we have no scientific evidence that they are any better than plain soap and water," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "In fact, some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long-term."

The ingredients targeted by the FDA could pose health risks like bacterial resistance or hormonal effects.

The FDA says manufacturers failed to show that the banned ingredients were safe and more effective than plain soap and water.

Companies have one year to comply with the new rules, and some have already been phasing out once-popular ingredients triclosan and triclocarban.