The war over antibacterial soap continues.
The supposedly superior class of hand cleanser has been the subject of scrutiny since October 2005, when a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel concluded that regular soap is just as effective in warding off illness, and presents fewer risks.
The latest salvo comes in the form of a class action lawsuit against Dial, filed last week in a federal court in East St. Louis, Illinois. The complaint takes issue with several claims that Dial makes about its Dial Complete foaming antibacterial hand soap, including that it kills 99.99% of all germs, is the #1 Doctor Recommended brand of antibacterial liquid hand soap, and that it kills more germs than any other liquid hand soap.
The plaintiffs say these claims are all part of an extensive marketing campaign that has been going on since Dial Complete was introduced, and that Dial has taken no meaningful steps to clear up consumers' misconceptions regarding the product.
Triclosan at issue
According to the suit, there are no reliable studies showing that [Dial Complete] provides a benefit over washing with regular soap and water. The complaint points out that the sole active ingredient in Dial Complete is triclosan, which has not been shown to provide any benefit beyond those offered by standard soap.
In fact, earlier this year, the FDA announced that it is reviewing triclosan to ensure that it is safe for human use. While the chemical is not known to be hazardous to people, the agency said that several [recent] scientific studies merit further review, and specifically pointed to questions raised by recent animal studies of triclosan.
Indeed, the suit notes that triclosan, which it says was originally developed as a surgical scrub, is a chlorophenol, a class of chemicals which is suspected of causing cancer in humans, and that the ingredient has already been banned or restricted in other countries, including the European Union. Triloscan is also present in clothing, toys, and kitchenwares.
Continued questions
The 2005 FDA panel found that, in addition to its high price, antibacterial soap has the potential to create more resistant bacteria that are able to ward off even the strongest hand cleansers.
There's no evidence [the soaps are] a good value, FDA doctor Alistair Wood told WebMD.com at the time. There doesn't seem any good reason to buy them.
The suit, brought on behalf of all Illinois residents who bought Dial Complete, is premised on the theory that the class members substantially overpaid for the soap, since it was worth no more than standard hand soap. It alleges counts of breach of warranty, unjust enrichment, and violation of an Illinois consumer protection statute.
