My recent review of Bath and Body Works uncovered their questionable labeling, mystery testing practices, and the use of nasty toxins in their products. If that wasn’t enough to convince you to look for natural alternatives, check out the new petition by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. You may have heard the buzz about Triclosan, an antimicrobial originally classified as a pesticide that has been found to cause hormonal toxicity, antibacterial resistance, and environmental contamination. This nasty stuff is found in a ton of soaps, lotions, and even children’s products. Triclosan was detected in three-quarters of the population in a recent study reported by the Washington Post.
Why are we even using this stuff? Our fear of microbes is out of control, and I am as guilty as anyone. I’ve already confessed my dirty little secret about my affection for hand sanitizer. While my days working as a nurse in the hospital may have instilled a fear of the bounty of microbes floating around there, now my days are spent in my home office at the computer, attending play dates with my toddler, and hanging out at the park. My antibacterial obsession is merely a habit, not a necessity. I’m now ready to take the pledge and in addition to Triclosan, I will be avoiding all antibacterial products. The truth of the matter is that antibacterial agents like Triclosan have been shown time and again to be no more effective than soap and water! And there are many essential oils like green tree oil that have natural antibacterial properties.
It’s time for a major shift in our thinking when it comes to cleanliness and our consumer habits. Many companies like Colgate and Johnson & Johnson have agreed to remove Triclosan from their product formulations, but Bath and Body Works continues to refuse to do so. Triclosan is currently under investigation by the FDA, whose fact sheet reassures consumers “FDA does not have sufficient safety evidence to recommend changing consumer use of products that contain triclosan at this time.” I don’t know about you, but I’m not willing to have myself or my family be a guinea pig for this junk. Don’t wait for the research to come out—let’s rely on our common sense, which will tell us that Triclosan clearly isn’t benefiting anyone. Let’s use this news as an opportunity to teach our children. Hopefully we can influence our society to return to basics and embrace the old-fashioned method of soap and water!
Have you taken the pledge to avoid Triclosan? Do you think our society has become too obsessed with antibacterial products, and if so, why? What do you use for washing up?
Oh my gosh, that is so freaky. And it’s in children’s items!? Ugh. B&B disgusts me that they won’t take it out of their products. Also, I’ve been thinking of writing a post on antibacterial soap and the problems it causes, for a while now. I’ll make sure to put in a link to this article as a good place to read more!
Check out Beyond Pesticides’ list of products containing triclosan: http://www.beyondpesticides.org/antibacterial/products.htm
In addition to B&BW products you’ll find all sorts of random stuff including baby carriers, several PlaySkool toys and even a yoga mat!
I’ve never been a fan of antibacterial products and I guess now I know why. Thanks for this interesting research!
Shannon Milholland recently posted..Standing on Love
I too used to use hand sanitizer and antibacterial soaps – then I began learning about the appearance of “super bugs” and the role antibacterial products and antibiotics may be playing in their emergence. Not to mention how terrible chemicals like triclosan really are and why we need to avoid them for our health and the health of our planet.
Michelle recently posted..Help Get GMOs Labeled!
As a nurse, I’m well aware of the dangers of bacterial resistance and stopped using most antibacterial products a long time ago. I didn’t realize the latest research about Triclosan – thank you for sharing!!
Christina recently posted..My Mother
I read something about Triclosan being in the hand soap we nurses use in the hospital! It’s being used because it’s effective against MRSA and VRE, but this seems counter-intuitive to me. If these super-bugs are already resistant to some drugs, why push it further? Hopefully someone will come up with some healthier options!
I cannot stand Bath & Body and never have. This just makes it even easier to avoid them like the plague. Thanks!
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OMG! That’s horrible! I actually hate bath and body lotion from the stores… I’m a soapmaker and I make my own soap (and know what’s in it) but I never heard of Triclosan and it’s really scaring me! I’ll spread the word about this, that’s for sure!!
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I love that you make your own soap! I actually looked into this recently and it sounded a lot scarier than I realized! Do you make any other home-made bath products? I’m looking for some recipes to try!
Oh no! But I love Bath and Body Works stuff. This is a huge bummer. HUGE. You know, working as a teacher with 120 kids coming in and out of my classroom on a daily basis has gotten me into using anti-bacterial hand lotion and sanitizer regularly. I can just SEE the germs crawling on the desks, door handles, etc. Truly. It’s disgusting. No one is more sick more often than the teacher (and the hospital worker, I’m sure). I just don’t know what’s right anymore.
Laura recently posted..I Like to Play in Poop, I Do! I Like to Play in Poop, Do You?
As a nurse I really understand! I’m currently researching some antibacterial alternatives. I’ve used green tea tree oil in a solution of vinegar and baking soda as an all-purpose cleanser I have made for years. Many essential oils have natural disinfectant properties and are much safer than toxins like Triclosan. Keep posted
I have been waiting for B and B Works to come up with a non-anti bacterial soap line. I think many consumers would jump all over it. It’s sad to hear they refuse to.
Tracy recently posted..How-To Best Start a Meal Train
I do not buy anything from this company. Bath and Body Works does not use natural products, they use chemicals. As far as natural methods of fighting germs – a. Do not use antibacterials, by doing so you contribute to the amorphos of major resistance – adaption is the name of natures game! Use vinegar, citric acid, you need healthy flora (germs) to fight the unhealthy!