X
theAsianparent Philippines Logo
theAsianparent Philippines Logo
EnglishFilipino
Product GuideSign in
  • Building a BakuNation
  • Becoming a Parent
    • Trying to Conceive
    • Pregnancy
    • Delivery
    • Losing a Baby
    • Project Sidekicks
  • Ages & Stages
    • Baby
    • Toddler Years
    • Preschool Age
    • Kids
    • Preteen & Teen
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • News
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Health & Wellness
    • Diseases & Injuries
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Preschool
    • K-12
    • Special Education Needs
  • Lifestyle Section
    • Celebrities
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Home
    • Travel and Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Fitness
    • Wellness
    • Money
  • Become a VIP
  • COVID-19
  • Press Room
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023

FDA questions hand sanitizers’ safety and effectivity

3 min read

Having children turns most parents into a germaphobe; afraid of their children getting sick, they start to be more cautious of the things that they get in contact with.

As a result, parents start carrying bottles of hand sanitizers to keep germs and bacteria at bay.

But how effective are hand sanitizers in the first place? Are they really functioning they way they are advertised? Do they have any harmful side-effects?

The answers to these questions are what the FDA seeks to establish.

According to a Yahoo! report: “The Food and Drug Administration is asking for new studies on how the antiseptic gels and rubs fight germs and get absorbed into the body, with a particular focus on children and pregnant women.

“The proposal unveiled Wednesday is part of an ongoing government effort to review decades-old chemicals that have never had a comprehensive federal review.”

Officials say that the request for more studies on hand sanitizers doesn’t necessarily mean that the FDA believes that these products are ineffective or unsafe.

However, manufacturers, under current regulations, make broad claims about their products’ effectiveness.

Bottles of the Purell, say, claim that theirs “Kills 99.99 percent of illness-causing germs.”

Now the FDA considers tightening such claims after the information submitted by the manufacturers are reviewed.

"We're not trying to alarm people," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's drug center. "Obviously ethanol and humans have co-existed for a long time so there's a lot that's known about it."

But the agency is concerned in particular about its long-term effects to children and pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.

The Yahoo! report also said that regulators are also concerned about possible links between use of antiseptic chemicals and the emergence of so-called superbug bacteria, which are resistant to antibiotics.

"We need to get this additional information so if there are situations where caution is warranted we can label that or inform the public," Woodcock said.

Meanwhile, the American Cleaning Institute, a trade organization of cleaning products, said that already the FDA "has a wealth of data on hand sanitizers in their possession to judge them as generally recognized as safe and effective."

However, they also said that providing further information on the matter would work.

“FDA scientists were first charged with evaluating antiseptic soaps, scrubs and sprays in 1972 as part of a law designed to set guidelines for hundreds of drugs and chemicals that were already on the market but had never been formally reviewed,” said the same report.

“Environmentalists are mainly concerned about an ingredient called triclosan, which was used in many antibacterial soaps.

“The FDA is collecting safety and effectiveness data on that chemical with the goal of issuing new rules on its use by early 2018.”

READ: 3-year-old becomes drunk after drinking hand sanitizer

If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below or check out theAsianparent Community for more insightful parenting news and tips . Like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ to stay up-to-date on the latest fromtheAsianparent.com Philippines!

Partner Stories
Parents, here's what you should do when your child sees you and your spouse fighting
Parents, here's what you should do when your child sees you and your spouse fighting
3 Game Changing Baby Products that’s Now Available
3 Game Changing Baby Products that’s Now Available
13 Must-haves for Your Online Baby Checkout Checklist
13 Must-haves for Your Online Baby Checkout Checklist
Why Knowing Children’s Current Academic Ability Can Help them Advance in School
Why Knowing Children’s Current Academic Ability Can Help them Advance in School

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

James Martinez

Become a Contributor

  • Home
  • /
  • Child Safety
  • /
  • FDA questions hand sanitizers’ safety and effectivity
Share:
  • Positive reinforcement parenting: 5 tips and things you should know

    Positive reinforcement parenting: 5 tips and things you should know

  • What is gentle parenting? 5 tips and benefits of gentle parenting

    What is gentle parenting? 5 tips and benefits of gentle parenting

  • Parents' Guide: 17 things na hindi dapat gawin sa newborn baby

    Parents' Guide: 17 things na hindi dapat gawin sa newborn baby

  • Positive reinforcement parenting: 5 tips and things you should know

    Positive reinforcement parenting: 5 tips and things you should know

  • What is gentle parenting? 5 tips and benefits of gentle parenting

    What is gentle parenting? 5 tips and benefits of gentle parenting

  • Parents' Guide: 17 things na hindi dapat gawin sa newborn baby

    Parents' Guide: 17 things na hindi dapat gawin sa newborn baby

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Baby Names
    • Delivery
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Advice for Parenting Kids
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Lifestyle Section
    • Local celebs
    • Celebrities
    • Money
    • News
  • FAMILY & HOME
    • Couples
    • Weekend & Holiday Guide
    • Health
  • Building a BakuNation
    • More
      • TAP Community
      • Advertise With Us
      • Contact Us
      • Become a Contributor


    • Singapore flag Singapore
    • Thailand flag Thailand
    • Indonesia flag Indonesia
    • Philippines flag Philippines
    • Malaysia flag Malaysia
    • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
    • India flag India
    • Vietnam flag Vietnam
    • Australia flag Australia
    • Japan flag Japan
    • Nigeria flag Nigeria
    • Kenya flag Kenya
    © Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
    About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
    • Tools
    • Articles
    • Feed
    • Poll

    We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

    We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

    theAsianparent heart icon
    Nais naming magpadala ng notification sa'yo tungkol sa latest news at update sa pag-aalaga ng baby at kanilang kalusugan.