FDA Warns Procter and Gamble About Misleading Claims for Hand Sanitizer
Now, I've never used this particular hand sanitizer, but I've used the kind that contains alcohol and dries even as you're putting it on. I like those when I'm out and about and nowhere near a bathroom. I've also used antibacterial hand soaps before, though I don't any more because I don't think they provide any greater benefit that a good handwashing with regular soap. Plus, I think the jury is still out on whether they are contributing to drug-resistant bacteria. But this Early Defense stuff -- it foams? And then you leave it on to dry? Really?
Have any of you used this? Or would you? I am curious, because I can barely see an adult or school-ager doing this. It's not for use on kids under 2, but fine for kids 2 and older. However, there are warnings about getting it in the eyes or swallowing it ("contact a Poison Control Center right away") so I don't know how comfortable I'd feel slathering this on my toddler's hands and then waiting until the foamy stuff is sufficiently dry unless it dries very quickly. I might be willing to risk it if were primitive camping and my child fell hands-first onto a pile of raw chicken. Or poo.
At any rate, the P&G spokesperson stated in the article that they're going to work with the FDA to clear things up, but they don't think they've done anything improper. At my last check, the claims still remained on the company's Web site.
Comments
I am elderly and I have had available for use so-called incontinent products for a number of years. These products, both cream and wash products, contain Triclosan as the active ingredient, at 0.25%. The directions for use on Ca-Rezz Incontinent Care No-Rinse Wash, for instance, does say it is advised that the product be rinsed off if the area it is used on is extensive. And believe me when I say if you are not scrupulous about where your hands go after using it, as in for instance wiping a watery eyes, or some such, you can be sure you will know you have been handling an ugly chemical. I also find it can feel uncomfortable when left on the skin. And while I have no experience with that particular foam, my experience with them in general has been that they are slow to dry and I can see kids wiping still foamy hands on whatever is handy, shirt sleeve, shirt front, jeans, or on someone else nearby, with a great deal of glee. Beyond that, show me a kid that will use a hand-cleaning product included in a lunch bag or box instead of just diving into the food, and I will show you a kid with major social problems. For a preschooler, the problem would be keeping their Mother-cleaned hands out of their mouths. Triclosan is not good for internal use. Neither is alcohol, as in the alcohol gel cleansers, but it had not proved to be dangerous, since it tastes so bad. Don’t waste your money, time and effort on foams, spend that money, time and effort on teaching your children to wash their hands any time water, and hopefully soap is available, and to keep them, clean or not, out of their eyes and mouth, as Montessori schools do, and as has stood me in good stead for more than 70 years.
I used hand sanitizers for my preschooler for awhile until I started reading about the concerns. I think the jury is still out on ALL hand sanitizers for use with kids. I switched back to baby wipes. It’s just as easy to keep a small bag of baby wipes in one’s purse as it is a bottle of hand sanitizer.
The market for Over The Counter heath products continue to misled the public on this subject for almost a 30 years and the statistics in the news this past month has proven this fact. Hand washing with soap and water is not effective for preventing the spread of disease. Soap and water does not kill any harmful germs and the sanitizers that are being sold in America including this foam from P&G it is a contributing factor to antimicrobial resistance in bacteria.
There are products available that are very effective but they are all liquid alcohol based and in higher concentrations 70% or more. This is not a cosmetic product that the public has been brainwashed to desire but a plain antiseptic that is used in most hospitals in Europe for more than 30 years. Better products should be used in high risk areas like hospitals, schools, daycare and nursing homes if you want protection from germs like MRSA.
We can thank the Soap and Detergent Association, the FDA and our friendly pharmacist for the promotion of ineffective products that continue to promote the spread of disease for profit! Remember…..
Wash you hands for 10 seconds and continue to keep our multinational quarterly profits up during flu season!